Inspector General of Police General Edward Kale Kayihura has offered to purchase a brand new car for opposition FDC’s former presidential candidate Col Dr Kizza Besigye, to use in his day today work.
The vehicle is apparently intended to make Dr Besigye move around and conduct his business without attracting much public attention.
Dr Besigye made this revelation while speaking to press at his home in Kasangati, a day after being released from Naggalama Police Station.
The politician who grudgingly lost in last February’s presidential elections was arrested on Tuesday as he stepped out of his residence for the first time in more than 40 days, having been placed under house arrest since the elections.
He was supposedly headed to his party offices in Najjanankumbi to join fellow party members in their weekly prayer session.
On hitting the road however, Besigye’s Land Cruiser as has been the case was swarmed by hundreds of his supporters along the Kasangati road, significantly slowing traffic.
At the Mulago roundabout, when he declined to use an alternative route provided by police, he was arrested and held at Naggalama till late in the night.
Dr Besigye on Wednesday informed the media that the Inspector General of Police has in the past tried to resolve this challenge by offering to get him a new car that is not easily noticeable by the public.
“He (Kayihura) has been calling me now and again, saying that he wants to get me another car. That I should ditch my Land Cruiser and jump in their car,” he revealed.
“They also offered to drive me wherever I want to go, in this vehicle with tinted windows, where the public cannot see me.”
Besigye said however that he declined this offer. “They don’t want me to go to my people. They know that if I go to them, I will inspire them to rise against this regime’s injustices.”
Gen Kayihura last week while lifting Besigye’s house arrest, said that this was done in goodwill. He said however that Police would continue monitoring his moves.