How police blocked, arrested Besigye on campaign launch
Kasangati Division field force operations commander Fred Ahimbisibwe speaks to Dr Besigye before arresting him yesterday. PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA
What you need to know:
Stopped. The presidential hopeful was arrested just after leaving his home.
Kampala.
Hours to the launch of his campaigns for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party presidential flag-bearer yesterday, police arrested and detained presidential hopeful Kizza Besigye, attracting protests from his supporters.
At around 9am, Dr Besigye set off from his home in the company of his aide, Mr Francis Mwijukye, and a few others.
But just a few metres away from his home, Kasangati Division field force operations commander Fred Ahimbisibwe emerged and gave Dr Besigye two options; to either go back to his house or get arrested.
He chose the latter, observing that his home “is not a prison”.
“I am a law abiding citizen, my home cannot be a prison. I have work to do and if I have broken any law, you (police) take me to prison,” Dr Besigye told the police officers who had barricaded the road to his home.
Mr Ahimbisibwe told Dr Besigye that police had information he planned to incite violence in the city.
“We have information that you plan to cause mayhem in the city, so go back home.”
Dr Besigye asked police to escort him to the American Embassy where he said he had a scheduled meeting but this fell on deaf ears.
The Force also presented a letter to Dr Besigye, blocking his planned rallies at Kasangati Saza Headquarters and Kawempe Growers Ground.
In the letter signed by Mr Erasmus Twaruhukwa on behalf of the IGP, police said they did not know if Dr Besigye was endorsed by FDC to convene any meetings.
“From the letter, it is not clear whether the FDC party has endorsed Besigye as the party flag bearer and there is no communication from FDC that Besigye has been sponsored or endorsed to convene the meetings.”
However, Dan Mugarura, the FDC electoral commission chairperson, laughed off the excuse presented by police.
“We wrote to the police and attached the campaign programmes of both candidates. They received and even signed in our book. They can’t use that as an excuse.”
Police also said Dr Besigye violated Section 5(1) of the Public Order Management Act 2013.
Mr Ahimbisibwe then arrested Dr Besigye and took him to Nagalama Police Station in Mukono District where he remained detained until around 8pm when he was released.
Protests break out
After Dr Besigye’s detention, his campaign team and supporters led by Ms Ingrid Turinawe moved on with the planned rally at Kasangati Saza Headquarters but police fired tear gas and arrested them. Two MPs Roland Mugume Kaginda (Rukungiri Municipality) and William Nzoghu (Busongora North) were also arrested. Also arrested was Mr Wilfred Nyanzi (Rubaga Youth Publicity Secretary).
He was hounded on a police patrol track and taken to unidentified destination. By press time, his whereabouts were still unknown.
The arrest of Dr Besigye infuriated his supporters who also took to Kampala-Gayaza road and burnt tyres and logs. Police arrested more than 10 of the youth.
A host of politicians, including Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu and former coordinator of Intelligence Services David Sejusa, visited Dr Besigye at Nagalama Police Station.
Gen Muntu also suspended his campaign launch, scheduled for tomorrow in Kigezi sub-region, in a show of solidarity with Dr Besigye.
In another show of solidarity, Kenyans and Ugandans launched a hashtag on social media platform Twitter, calling for Besigye’s release. By press time, #FreeBesigye was trending on the platform.
