Police on Tuesday morning arrested FDC’s former Presidential Candidate Dr.Kizza Besigye who was proceeding to his party’s headquarters in Najjanankumbi to attend their weekly campaign prayers.
Besigye, who had been under house arrest for over 40 days, had earlier on Monday indicated that he would be joining other party members in prayers.
Police immediately responded that his procession to Najjanankumbi would not be permitted since he hadn’t informed police about it.
Besigye waves to his supporters from Kasangati
“The public is strongly advised to shun anyone who tries to involve in any unlawful activity that is likely to disrupt peace and safety within the city.”
Nonetheless, Besigye was adamant as always, informing reporters at his home that police had to “act sensible”
Tuesday morning he left his house in his Land Cruisers. Along the way, small crowds started building around his car, slowing traffic along the Kasangati road. At Karerwe, the crowd had grown bigger, forcing police to intervene. They tried unsuccessfully to fend off the crowd, and at the Mulago roundabout they stopped the vehicle.
Police led by Kampala Metropolitan Area North PRC Wesley Nganizi and CPS DPC Aaron Baguma surrounded his vehicle before towing it away to Kira road police.
Besigye was shortly detained at Kira road before being forced into a waiting police van and driven to Naggalama police station.
Besigye at Kira road Police station
At Naggalama, police was engaged in a scuffle with Besigye’s supporters who wanted to access the station.
Addressing journalists, Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said Besigye had been arrested and charged for defying orders and participating in an unlawful procession.
“He had been told to use Yusuf Lule and Mukwano roads to proceed to the party headquarters in Najjankumbi but he defied those orders,” Onyango told journalists.
Police deployed heavily at Naggalama
Last week the Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura announced that police had ended their siege at Besigye’s home but warned they would keep monitoring his activities around the city.
“It is an act of goodwill but in the event he violates the public order management act or does anything that breaches security and peace ,government will no option but take appropriate measures to approach him,” Kayihura warned.
He urged the opposition strongman to denounce his defiance campaign.