88 FDC supporters arrested

Police officers arrest Opposition protesters in Bushenyi Town yesterday during the Free-my-vote-related activities. PHOTO BY ZADOCK AMANYISA.

What you need to know:

Arrests. The more than 88 Opposition supporters were arrested in different parts of the country with about 30 picked from Kampala Metropolitan area

Countrywide.

More than 88 FDC and other Opposition supporters were yesterday arrested in a security swoop against the ‘Free-my-Vote’ campaign that Opposition leaders had said would be launched on May 5.

Majority of the arrests were in Kampala, Mbarara, Fort Portal and Mbale towns with at least 30 protestors picked up from the Kampala Metropolitan area.

Mr Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesman, said yesterday those arrested had disobeyed a court order, which last week banned any defiance-related campaigns.

“Six suspects were arrested in Entebbe Municipality, 10 in Nakawa Division and 10 in the city centre. The rest were arrested in Old Kampala area. They are all detained on the same offence of disobedience of lawful orders,” he said.

Last week, Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma issued an interim order banning FDC and Dr Kizza Besigye from having “demonstrations, processions, other public meetings, media campaigns or pronouncements including but not limited to planned demonstrations or processions scheduled for May 5 or any other day among other orders”.

Police said they will enforce the order while Dr Besigye said the order was unconstitutional and they would defy it.
In western, Uganda, police detained 21 FDC supporters who had converged at different places to demonstrate.
A similar operation was conducted in Mbale Municipality, arresting seven Opposition supporters.

The Elgon regional police spokesperson, Ms Diana Nandawula, said the suspects were found distributing money to party supporters to demonstrate, adding they will face charges of unlawful assembly and inciting violence.

In Fort Portal Municipality, eight Opposition supporters were arrested at Maguru on Fort Portal-Kasese Road where they had assembled to start a procession through Fort Portal Town to Buhinga playground where they had planned to hold a rally.
Mr Musa Tibakirana, the Kabarole District police commander, said: “We have arrested them for defying a court order and will be produced in court to answers charges of disobeying court orders.”

In the Teso sub-region, Mr Jonathan Ebwalu, the FDC area coordinator, was prevented from entering Soroti Town.
He was arrested and put under house arrest at his village home at Oderai.

Police in Pallisa and Busia districts arrested eight supporters for allegedly participating in banned activities.
Mr Sowali Kamulya, the Bukedi region police spokesperson said five FDC supporters had been arrested in various parts of Pallisa District attempting to head to Kampala to join other supporters in defiance campaigns.

In Busia District, police arrested three people, including Mr Ahamada Kuseeine, Mr Godfrey Olwenyi and Mr Cyrus Mande, who were moving around town chanting FDC slogans.

Reported by Andrew Bagala Joseph Eigu Onyango, Zadock Amanyisa, Edson Kinene, Felix Ainebyoona Yahudu Kitunzu, Scovia Atuhaire, Mudangha Kolyangha

Time line

Court order: Last week, Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma issued an order that banned FDC and Dr Kizza Besigye from conducting any defiance-related activities, including demonstrations, processions, public meetings, media campaigns or pronouncements.

Warning: Government yesterday warned all media houses from covering live any defiance related campaign. In a statement read by Information and National Guidence minister Jim Muhwezi government said it would withdraw licences of any media house that would disobey the order.