LEEDS: Ugandans living in the United Kingdom (UK) have urged the European Union, UK, U.S. and other Uganda’s international partners to push for sanctions against the Uganda Inspector General (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura for reportedly violating the law he’s meant to enforce.
This was during the recent protests held at Briggate Street.
Ugandans later marched to Victoria Gardens to protest against what they termed the “February fraudulent presidential elections” and the alleged harassment of opposition leaders, civil protests and journalists.
This past Saturday, the Uganda Diaspora P10 the UK Charter who organised the demonstration accused the police boss for ordering the law enforcement personnel to ‘shoot to kill’ of unarmed protesters.
They claimed that since Uganda’s electoral body announced President Museveni as winner of the disputed general election last month, many unarmed protesters in several parts of Uganda have been shot and killed by police and other security agencies.
Only one person died in the Wandegeya battle between security forces and Dr Besigye’s supporters on the eve of the February 18 elections.
Others have died in attacks on security facilities in the Rwenzori districts of Kasese and Bundibugyo.
In their submissions, the protesters said Museveni’s main challenger, Dr Kizza Besigye who contested on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket has been arrested on several occasions whenever he tried to get out of his Kasangati- residence 12.2 kilometres north of the capital Kampala and he remains under house for the last 35 days.
In recent weeks Anti-Museveni protests have been organised around western capitals in a bid to sway the donors and potential investors to deny legitimacy to Museveni’s government.
Government has responded by dispatching top officials, including Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanya to present its case to the international community.
Before the protesters marched to Victoria Gardens, Leeds city authority had to close Briggate Street to allow a peaceful demonstration.
They further argued that during the February 18 polls, the Uganda government blocked the access to several sites of social media.
Ugandan officials said then that this was meant to stop the spread of hate messages on Facebook and Twitter which would incite violence.
The protesters carried the placards containing literature and images such as: “Don’t recognise Museveni presidency,” and “Museveni! Stop suppressing peaceful protests”, among others.
Prince Dickson Wasajja of the FDC- UK Chapter and Chair of P10 (UK), outlined the key demands:
“We call upon demand the British government to demand unconditional release of the opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change, and other political prisoners- including the freezing of assets of Ugandan official that on record of instigating violence against the population.”
He added: “Travel bans should be imposed against key regime officials who are implicated in the poll, including Yoweri Museveni, Kasule Lumumba, General Kale Kayihura, General Katumba Wamala and Felix Kaweesa among others.”