Kizza Besigye being arrested

Forum for Democratic Change President, Dr. Kizza Besigye, Uganda people’s Congress President Olara Otunu and Democratic Party President Nobert Mao were on Monday morning arrested shortly before they left their respective homes in Kasangati, Ntinda and Bugolobi respectively.

Otunu was arrested at Jinja Road opposite Shoprite as he walked from his home in Bugolobi to his office at Uganda House, while Besigye and Mao were not allowed to even walk, and were arrested outside their respective homes.

Police has been fighting battles with protesters in Kasangati, Kireka, Bweyogere on this 3^rd day of Uganda’s walk to work protests against the increasing cost of living due to high fuel, food and prices of several essential products and services.

President Museveni Yoweri had warned on Saturday that the opposition leaders will not be allowed to demonstrate as the security agencies had come up with measures to ensure there is no walk to work protest.

But several opposition leaders vowed to continue to walk to work protests every Monday and Thursday, and did so today. Many opposition leaders were detaining this morning for attempting to walk to work, including

David Pulokol, Nandala Mafabi, Anne Mugisa, Sarah Epelu, Cecilia Ogwal, Margaret Wokuri, Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda among others. Opposition leaders have also been arrested in Hoima, Jinja and Kiballe after being caught walking to work.

The government accuses the opposition of using the dire economic situation to undermine its authority and planning to take over government illegally.

In a statement on behalf of the Cabinet, Information and National Guidance Minister kabakumba Masiko said “negative elements” want to exploit the economic crunch to portray the government of Uganda as being insensitive to problems facing the citizens.

“This group is politically motivated, trying to undermine legitimate authority, aiming at capturing power through illegitimate means. This grand plan is to hoodwink the public to believe that the opposition agitation is in their interest,” Kabakumba said.

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Though most areas were peaceful and normal activities were going on reports of riots in Bwaise, Kalerwe, Kajansi and Kasangati kept many people on their toes that the worst might happen and the riots spread across the city.

Matters were not helped when it was first reported that opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye had been shot by soldiers who had been called in to beef up the police in Kasangati and Kalerwe areas. Besigye was injured on his right hand index and middle fingers but police say it must have resulted from scuffles and not police rubber bullets as claimed.

A pregnant woman in Kajjansi was left for dead after she was hit by a suspected bullet or tear gas canister. It left her intestines hanging out and she was rushed to Mulago hospital where she is fighting for dear life.

Several other people including school pupils and a baby were severely injured and made unconscious by the teargas as the police unleashed another round of anti riot measures.

Judith Nabakooba has confirmed that Kampala Metropolitan CID chief John Kato was severely beaten by the rioters in Kasangati and is admitted at a hospital in Kampala.

Over 103 people were arrested including opposition leaders and Members of parliament who were caught walking to their respective places of work. But two MPs, Geoffrey Ekanya (Tororo) and Odonga Otto (Aruu) managed to walk to Parliament without being arrested.

The opposition has threatened to continue the protests even on May 12^th when President Yoweri Museveni will be swearing in. Besigye says opposition politicians are being arrested for walking to identify with the people suffering due to high prices of goods and services, while President’s office has asked and been given an extra three billion shillings for President Museveni’s swearing in ceremony.

Nabakoba however insists the police will not allow any such protests and advised the politicians to seek for alternative ways of expressing their grievances.

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