Police arrest former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi

Former premier Amama Mbabazi has been arrested. He was ordered to get out of his car, a black Toyota Landcruiser, by police that blocked his convoy at Njeru, near Jinja town. From his car, Mr Mbabazi, waved at cheering supporters as he was led to a waiting police pick-up that drove him away.

The Police director of operations, Mr Felix Kaweesi who oversaw the arrest said the former premier was told to either drive back to Kampala or get arrested. He said Mr Mbabazi is under preventive arrest.

“He refused to drive back to Kampala and we arrested him. He has been taken to a police station and the rest will follow,” Mr Kaweesa said.

It is not clear where Mr Mbabazi is being incarcerated.  

Mr Mbabazi was scheduled to start his nationwide consultative meetings in Mbale before presenting himself as a candidate for the leadership of the ruling National Resistance Movement.

The Presidential Press Secretary said on Wednesday that it is the President’s view that his former prime minister would be arrested if he insists on holding consultative meetings before the ruling party officially sanctions them.

“The President’s message is that Mbabazi will be arrested by the police if he goes ahead with those meetings. He is not above the law,” Presidential Press Secretary Tamale Mirundi said.

Tension is building up at the scene as a sizeable group of youthful people engage police is heated arguments.

Mr Mbabazi’s entourage led by his daughter Rachael, has been forced to drive back to Kampala.

UPDATES:

11:17AM: Mbabazi now in Bukoto headed to Kiira Road Police Station in the Company of his lawyer Fred Muwema

REPORTS: Amama Mbabazi's daughter Ms Rachel Mbabazi also detained in Jinja according to Ms Nina Mbabazi.