Youth arrested over Museveni ‘80th’ birthday
A policeman arrests Mr Ismael Saddam, the leader of the group that was celebrating President Museveni’s birthday in Kampala on Wednesday. Photo by ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
They demand that President Museveni retires in 2016
KAMPALA
Police yesterday foiled a birthday celebration organised for President Museveni by a group of youth at the Constitutional Square in Kampala.
The group led by Mr Ismael Saddam and Mr Habib Mbowa, carried placards wishing the President a happy 80th birthday and denouncing his sole candidature.
They also had a cake showing Mr Museveni’s age as 80 and donned yellow T-shirts with “Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi for presidency” written on.
“We demand that Mr Museveni peacefully retires before 2016 and our president Amama Mbabazi, who is capable, stands in 2016,” Mr Saddam said as he was hauled away to Central Police Station.
“We will not allow Museveni to stand as NRM flag-bearer without a challenge from Mbabazi. Museveni is 80 years old but he claims he is 70,” he added.
The President celebrated his 70th birthday in Rwakitura on Sunday.
The divisional police commander, Mr Henry Kintu, arrested the youth for distracting business in the city and for not seeking permission.
“We received information that there where people planning to celebrate the President’s birthday but they had not got permission. We couldn’t allow them to continue with their plans,” he said.
previous attempt
In 2011, Luweero Woman MP, then DP youth leader Brenda Nabukenya and other youth were arrested with a cake and gift bearing procession to Constitution Square where they planned to celebrate what they dubbed “President Museveni’s 73rd birthday”.
