Police raid FDC offices in Kasese town
KASESE-Security operatives in Kasese District Wednesday stormed offices of the Opposition for Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Kasese town and went away with an assortment of items.
The operatives stormed and searched the offices located on Alexander Street in Kasese town.
Mr Milikiodi Bwambale, the office attendant, told journalists shortly after the incident that security operatives whose motives remain scanty stormed the office at about 12:30pm during a heavy downpour.
Mr Bwambale said that the operatives arrived at the office when the party’s district chairperson, Mr Saulo Maate was being interviewed by two NTV journalists.
He said the operatives went away with a bundle of forms that were supposed to be signed by party members to support a petition that will be used to drag President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly committing crimes against humanity.
On November 8, while addressing journalists in Kampala, the Opposition Peoples Government Deputy President, Mr Erias Lukwago said that President Museveni, in his individual capacity, should answer cases related to suppression, torture and extrajudicial killings.
Mr Lukwago cited the brutality against members of the opposition, the attack on Omusinga Charles Wesley Mumbere’s palace in Kasese town in 2016 which led to the death of more than 100 people, the invasion of the Parliament by the army during the age limit debate and the rampant kidnaps and murders in the country.
He said that they would seek signatures from at least two million Ugandans to support the petition.
Mr Bwambale told Daily Monitor that the operatives also went away with four mobile phones.
Two phones belong to Mr Maate.
The journalists’ two phones were also taken.
Mr Eric Mwesige, an NTV correspondent based in Kasese District said that together with his colleague; Mr Simon Bwambale, a correspondent from Bunyangabu District, had booked Mr Maate for an interview.
“Police officials came and stopped us and confiscated my equipment. Until now, I am still stranded", Mr Mwesige said.
Police at the Rwenzori East Regional Headquarters in Kasese town and the 309 Uganda Peoples Defence Forces denied being behind the raid.
The Rwenzori East Regional Police Spokesperson, Mr Vincent Twesige referred Daily Monitor to the UPDF Public Relations Officer at Hima Barracks, who also denied responsibility.
“If the police are denying having stormed the office of the FDC, then those who stormed it are thieves,” the 309 Brigade spokesperson, Capt Sonko Masumbuku said.
