Teargas, gunshots as police disperse Besigye supporters in Iganga
Medical officers attend to Hussein Kirege who was rushed to Medicare health centre in Iganga District after his hand was shattered by a teargas canister as he tried to hurl it back at police officers who had fired it to disperse FDC rally. PHOTOS BY YAZID YOLISIGIRA
What you need to know:
- Accompanied by their supporters, the party officials led a procession around Iganga Town before heading to the party offices along Daudi-Waiswa Road from where they were intercepted by police led by the DPC, David Ndaula, who tried to switch off the Public Address System.
IGANGA. Police in Iganga District have dispersed Forum of Democratic Change (FDC) supporters who had gathered at a rally that was slated to be attended by the former and current party presidents, Dr Kizza Besigye and Mr Patrick Oboi Amuriat respectively.
Upon arrival in Iganga Town on Wednesday, the group led by Mr Besigye, beat police surveillance and inspected potholes on Saza Road.
The one-kilometre stretch has been impassable, and two weeks ago, a group of residents staged a demonstration demanding for its immediate rehabilitation which left ten residents arrested.
Police follow Dr Kizza Besigye and Mr Patrick Amuriat as they leave Iganga Town.
Accompanied by their supporters, the party officials led a procession around Iganga Town before heading to the party offices along Daudi-Waiswa Road from where they were intercepted by police led by the DPC, David Ndaula, who tried to switch off the Public Address System.
Mr Ndaula said the group was holding an illegal assembly since they had not sought clearance from the IGP.
"This assembly is illegal; if you wanted to hold a rally you would have followed the procedure as required by the Public Order Management Act,” he said.
Police officers block cars belonging to Dr Kizza Besigye and Patrick Amuriat as the duo attempted to join a roundabout along the Iganga-Jinja Highway.
However, the group refused to vacate the premises prompting police to fire teargas and live bullets in the air to ward off Besigye and Igrid Turinawe who were proceeding to address the gathering.
"This country is ours and what the regime is doing to muzzle our rights and freedom is a wastage of time. We shall overcome this oppression within a short time,” Mr Besigye said before he was interrupted by gunshots.
After about an hour of cat-and-mouse chase, the FDC officials retreated and drove towards the Iganga-Jinja highway where police, amidst gunshots and teargas, blocked them from turning towards Bugiri and asked them to drive towards Jinja.
Besigye and his team first rejected the order and instead parked their cars on the roundabout, paralysing traffic for about 30 minutes.
Mr Hussein Kirege at Medicare Health Centre where he was admitted after his hand was shattered by a teargas canister explosion
They alter relented and drove towards Jinja.
However, during the scuffle, a man identified as Mr Hussein Kirege was rushed to Medicare Health Centre in Iganga after his hand was shattered by a teargas canister as he tried to hurl it back at police officers.
Before coming to Iganga Town, the FDC officials privately met local party leaders in Nakigo Sub-county where Besigye asked them to remain strong and prepare for change.
