Senior Superintendent of Police David Ulama attached to the Field Force Unit on Tuesday afternoon testified before Kasangati Magistrates court against former FDC presidential candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye in a case the latter is accused of disobeying lawful orders.
According to prosecution, the FDC former presidential candidate on April 5th 2016 defied orders of the Wandegeya DPC Samuel Bamuzibire by refusing to use Yusuf Lule road to the party headquarters and opted to pass through Wandegeya and the city centre.
In his testimony, the 46 year old officer in charge of the tactical support unit under Field Force Police said that on this day, he was deployed with a platoon (36 officers) at Kalerwe roundabout when at around 9am Besigye came with a procession, and while he stood through the sunroof of his Toyota TX, number UAW 616W he tried to force his way toward the city centre.
“The atmosphere was chaotic with a lot of bodabodas and motor vehicles. Traffic came to a standstill prompting my boss (Bamuzibire) to order me to deploy a section of my men carrying shields to block Dr. Besigye’s convoy,” Ulama told court.
“We were able to do this as allowed only his vehicle and that carrying pressmen to pass and stopped the other people who were following him.”
At Mulago Kubbiri, the officer narrated, he ordered another officer to block Besigye from proceeding to the Central Business District via Wandegeya as this would cause destruction in areas like Kisekka, St. Balikuddembe and Mini Price.
He told court that Besigye then proceeded up to Mulago roundabout where the Wandegeya DPC ordered him to follow the route via Yusuf Lule road to Najjanankumbi where he was going.
“In response, Dr. Besigye asked him (DPC) whether he knew where he (Besigye) was heading. Then his driver parked in the middle of the road. As this was going on, supporters were throwing stones at police.”
The policeman however started to fumble as Besigye’s lawyers led by Fredrick Mpanga cross examined him on the events of this day.
Ulama testifies
Asked whether it is one’s right not to obey unlawful orders, Ulama answered in the affirmative adding that there is no law stopping anyone from moving to any place of the country apart from restricted areas like army Barracks.
On whether there was any emergency as provided by law to warrant police blockade of one section of the road, the Senior Superintendent of Police told court that there was nothing of that sort in Wandegeya but said the road had been blocked from all users before Besigye came.
The policeman, who had earlier told court that Besigye was flashing the party’s V- sign which was wrong, later changed his statement saying he would not arrest the opposition strongman in case he saw him doing so.
On whether the order to follow Yusuf Lule road was made to Besigye or his driver, the policeman who had earlier told court that he was a good friends with Besigye said it was only made to the FDC leader.
“We (police) expected him (Besigye) to pass it over to the driver. It was wrong to make the order to the person who was not controlling the vehicle,” the policeman testified.
Ulama also admitted that flashing the V sign was not an offence and that Besigye had not invited the big number of people following him.
The trial magistrate Fredy Ashoka Egesa adjourned the case to May 17 for further hearing.