National
Besigye refuses to leave police station
Dr Kizza Besigye scours through his bag to look for Shs3 million which police allegedly confiscated from his vehicle last Friday. However, he could not find the money. Looking on L-R are KCCA Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (MP Kyadondo East), JEEMA president Asuman Basalirwa, and Ms Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC Women League leader. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE.
Posted Wednesday, March 6 2013 at 02:00
In Summary
The former FDC leader vows not to leave until police explain to him why he is not allowed to move freely like other
Ugandans.
The former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, Dr Kiiza Besigye, yesterday refused to leave Kira Town Council Police Station, where he had been detained under preventive arrest.
Dr Besigye and two of his aides, Mr Sam Mugumya and Mr Francis Mwijukye, were arrested early yesterday morning after
boarding a city-bound commuter taxi in Kasangati, a Kampala suburb. According to one of his aides, Dr Besigye does not
have a driver, as the latter is remanded to Luzira Prison after a riot at a public rally in Kawempe Division last week.
His vehicle had also been vandalised following violent clashes with unknown assailants in civilian clothing.
Bungled into a police van and heavily roughed up, Dr Besigye was driven 13 kilometres to the station where he was
detained.
Mr Mugumya was detained at Kasangati Police Station while Mr Mwijukye escaped the arrest, only later to surface at Kira
Town Council Police Station.
Besigye’s vow
Speaking to the Daily Monitor on phone from police cells, Dr Besigye said “consistent police harassment” had rendered
him “unproductive, and unable to “effectively earn a living”. “I will not leave this police station until I get an
explanation from police as to why I cannot be allowed to go about my business,” he said. “As a Ugandan, I have a right
to public transport, especially now that my vehicle was vandalized. This harassment must stop or else we shall seek
legal redress.”
When this newspaper visited Kasangati Trading Centre, eyewitnesses described how a jovial Besigye and his aides were
unceremoniously “ejected” from the commuter taxi. A scuffle ensued, leading to his arrest and that of Mr Mugumya. A
yet-to-be identified driver of the commuter taxi was also arrested and detained at the Kasangati Police Station and his
vehicle impounded. By press time last evening, this newspaper could not verify whether he had been released.
The regional police commander for Kampala north, Mr Stephen Tanui, said Dr Besigye and Mr Mugumya were apprehended as they “attempted to disturb the peace”.
“We arrested the two as they tried to start their Walk-to-Work activities. We are holding them under Preventive Arrest
until further notice,” Mr Tanui said. Anticipating chaos, police had heavily deployed at both police stations as news of
the arrest of the FDC leaders became public.
jnjoroge@ug.nationmdia.com
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