Besigye, Lukwago snub police summons

Rugunda Backs Besigye On Walk To Work

SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 31 JANUARY 2012
http://redpepper.co.ug/welcome/?p=28122

Rugunda's thoughts might cause ripples in government circles

ICT Minister Ruhakana Rugunda has said Forum for Democratic Change leader Kizza Besigye has the right to walk-to-work. Rugunda said police should let the opposition leader hold rallies and also participate in the walk-to-work demonstrations that have rocked the nation.

“Besigye, like any other person has the right to demonstrate as long as he does not breach the peace,” Rugunda told Red Pepper in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the National Consultative Forum for Political Parties last Friday at Protea Hotel, Kampala.

“Every Ugandan has a right to demonstrate and it must be respected,” Rugunda said. The statement could send shockwaves since security chiefs have insisted Besigye must not be allowed to walk-to-work. IGP Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura has insisted that Besigye’s walk-to-work demonstrations are aimed at overthrowing President Museveni’s government.

The consultative meeting brought together different members from political parties in Uganda. It’s chaired by Rugunda who was deputized by FDC strongman Col. Amanya Mushega. Electoral commission was represented by Sam Rwakoojo and Badru Kiggundu while opposition was represented by Abed Bwanika among others.

The meeting, which kicked off at 11am ended late in the evening. Journalists were kicked out of the meeting after tempers flared among the politicians from the rival parties as they discussed the code of conduct of political parties.

Rugunda was a few years ago sent to United Nations as Uganda’s representative to the Security Council in what many thought was a move to cripple the liberal politician’s attempts to form a political base in Uganda. On his return, he was deployed at the less influential ICT ministry.

Police Deliberately Wanted To Kill Me – Nabilah

SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 30 JANUARY 2012
http://redpepper.co.ug/welcome/?p=27914

Besigye attends to Nabilah at IHK

Kampala Woman Member of Parliament Nabilah Nagayi has claimed that police deliberately wanted to kill her on Friday night when she was involved in an accident in Rubaga.

The MP miraculously survived death along Namirembe Road in Kampala where her vehicle was knocked by police trucks following a rally held by Activists for Change (A4C).

We caught up with her last evening at IHK where she was rushed by Col Kizza Besigye and FDC youth.  The following is how she recounted the dramatic Friday events:

Police vehicle knocks baby to death, mourners tear-gassed

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1317088/-/b1dbj1z/-/index.html

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 31 JANUARY 2012

In Summary

Police crime. A resident says police cars, which are driven recklessly in the congested area, frequent the place to have fuel siphoned off them.

Police officers on Sunday fired tear gas canisters and bullets to disperse mourners at the home of a two-year-old baby who was knocked by a speeding police car in the congested Kitoro West Zone, Nsambya in Kampala.

The officers wanted to forcefully take the body of the baby, Solomon Saava Ssebagala, to Mulago Referral Hospital for a postmortem which parents and their relatives declined on grounds that they could not afford to spend more money on the process.

Amid the tear gas, the parents of the deceased locked the body of the boy in the house when everybody scampered away for their dear lives as clouds of tear gas filled the atmosphere.

Police attempts to access the body succeeded when they opted for negotiations with the bereaved family and residents several hours later.

Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Ibin Ssenkumbi confirmed the incident and regretted it.

Officer arrested
“The officer attached to the Canine Unit who was driving the car has been arrested on charges of reckless driving and causing death. We are also investigating whether he had been authorised to use the car,” Mr Ssenkumbi said yesterday.

Mr Ssenkindu Mutebi, a resident, said many police cars are driven to the area to siphon off fuel out of them.

He said: “He was speeding in this congested area. I think he wanted to siphon off fuel before going for other trips. We had kept calm throughout the incident. We even took their driver to the Local Council chairperson to forward him to police. Soon afterwards, other police officers came and just started tear-gassing and shooting at us after some people expressed their grievances.”

The deceased‘s father, Mr Frederick Makubuya said: “I left home after my son had returned from church with the mother but I was shocked to receive a call in the evening that he had been knocked by a speeding car.”

He added: “When I reached home, teargas was all over the place. They had taken the body for postmortem and we had to wait up to 3pm when they gave us transport.”

Meanwhile, a tear gas canister landed into a nearby salon where one resident, Ms Rose Namutebi, who had taken cover with her child, suffocated and later fainted.

Amid a heavy shootout, brave residents managed to rescue the lady from the salon.
Similar incidents have happened in Ndejje Lubugumu village near Entebbe Road, and in Mabanda Village in Matugga, Wakiso District recently.

In both incidents police had to fire tear gas to disperse the irate mourners.
At least 3,000 police officers are under investigation over different crimes by the Police Professional Standards Unit.

FDC Asks Gov’t To Check “Hit Men”

http://redpepper.co.ug/welcome/?p=27506

SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 29 JANUARY 2012

FDC President Kiiza Besigye

The Forum for Democratic Change is calling on government to control its security agents in civilian clothes.

Santos Komakech, a body guard to Kampala Capital City Authority Director for Physical planning, George Agaba, on Sunday shot at irate residents of Luzira, killing one person and injuring five others during an eviction exercise.

The body of John Onyango was on Monday transported to his home in Bugiri.

Those injured include Florence Nalwadda 18, Twaili Kalibatala, Denis Agaba, Twaibu Bagala and 27-year-old Hakim Kalumba.

At the shooting, 20 families had been evicted from Railway Zone, Port Bell in Luzira.
FDC Deputy Spokesperson Toterebuka Bamwenda says the habit has been ongoing since February 16th 2006 when Lt. Ramathan Magara killed Vincent Kavuma and Gideon Makabayi injuring scores more at Bulange Mengo.

He adds that six years later, the media remains awash with images of unidentified armed men in plain clothes.
Bamwenda says the party is concerned that these actions are causing public anxiety as they point to the loss of control on the part of government.
Bamwenda demands that the police institutes strict rules on the use of fire arms and cease the deployment of plain clothed officers in overt operations.
Lt Gen Kale Kayihura, the Inspector General of Police on Monday visited the scene of Sunday’s shooting said Komakech is a police constable attached to the VIP protection unit.

MP Nabilah, police in accident

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1315558/-/b1elbqz/-/index.html

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 29 JANUARY 2012

 

FDC leader Kizza Besigye (L) and other supporters visit Ms Sempala at IHK on Friday. 

A traffic police officer apologises to the legislator, saying “to error is human” as Nabilah was taken to a city hospital.

Kampala

 Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Nagayi Sempala was on Friday admitted to Kampala International Hospital after she suffered chest injuries when her car got involved in accident along Namirembe Road.

The MP’s car hit a police mobile van Reg No UP 1982 at around 7pm which had suddenly stopped while Nabilah’s driver did not break in time. It is said the speeding police van was trying to overtake Ms Sempala’s car. She and other members of pressure group Activists for Change (A4C) were travelling from Kabowa where they had held a public rally.

Ms Sempala, who was waving through the open roof, hit her chest on the edge. She fainted and was immediately rushed to hospital where she was taken for a scan.
However, the police officer at the scene apologised to the MP and her driver, saying “to error is human.”

Meanwhile, the A4C rally that was set for yesterday afternoon at Kololo Airstrip has been temporarily called off after the group said it was still consulting other members of the group on the way forward.

Rally deferred?
“There are many of our members that are upcountry that would like to participate in this rally but they wanted us to first talk to the people they represent so that we explain to them as to why we are having such a rally,” A4C coordinator Mathias Mpuuga told Sunday Monitor. According to Mr Mpuuga, the pressure group plans to first hold several rallies in upcountry towns before climaxing at Kololo.

They also warned the police against aiding goons to attack them with stones, a claim the police denies. The A4C has also issued an ultimatum to police to have suspended KCCA City Planner George Agaba arrested for his role in the bloody Luzira eviction. And failure to do that, the activists said they will hold a demonstration in protest on Tuesday.

Power cuts cause 150 hospital deaths

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1315534/-/b1eldmz/-/index.html

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 29 JANUARY 2012

A cross section of Jinja Hospital Children’s ward. Doctors are grappling with the challenge of keeping patients alive against constant power cuts. 

In Summary

A patient on life support may only survive for five minutes in case of severe infection after the supply goes off.

Jinja

More than one hundred fifty people have died in Jinja Referral Hospital in the last six month due to unstable power supply and load shedding, hospital authority have said.

This comes as the country continues to suffered inadequate power supply resulting into a 12-hour load shedding schedule over several months now; the hospital experiences at least three days a week of power cuts.

Hospital authority said the unstable power supply has affected mainly patients in children’s ward, intensive care unit, emergency wards and the operating theatre. But with adverse effects in the Nalufenya Children’s Ward.

“As doctors we get caught at a crossroads to refer patients you are sure won’t reach Mulago (National Referral Hospital) alive or keep them and rely on chance. A patient on life support may only survive for five minutes in case of severe infection after the supply goes off,” a doctor at the children’s ward, who asked not to be named, said.

He added: “Children that we subject to life support (oxygen) are in most cases diagnosed with pneumonia, birth asphyxia in premature babies, heart condition, and asthmatic attacks, among others. Many of them are brought in critical condition. This means they can’t survive without it (electricity).”

Doctors who spoke on condition of anonymity said whenever there is load-shedding there must be mortalities. Perusing through the documents with Sunday Monitor, the medics put the death toll at the children’s ward due to load-shedding at more than 100. However, the Hospital Director, Dr Michael Osinde Odongo, sais the figure is “ridiculously low.”

“You are talking about the children’s ward, how about the Intensive Care Unit? What of the mortalities in the operating theatre? These are sections of the hospital where patients are in critical condition. You may be transfusing or trying to keep a patient breathing and then power goes off,” he said.

Dr Osinde added: “You could possibly put that figure at 150. Children die and they die in big numbers, especially premature babies. What those doctors are telling you are not rumours.” He said there is no money to buy fuel for the generators that supply power to the hospital in case of a power black-out.

“We are given Shs7 million for everything; cars, ambulances and generators. Generators take Shs2.5 million per month. The generators we have consume 20 litres per hour, yet sometimes you have it running the whole night,” Dr Osinde said.

When water marries power
Efforts to get comments from the ministry failed. The spokesperson asked for more time to find the responsible people to comment. Matters get only worse for the hospital that admits 400 patients, including 150 to 200 children, daily when water taps run dry due to load-shedding.

“When there is no electricity, there won’t be water running the next day, so water is rationed as there are no reserve tanks. All sterilisation has to be halted until power is back, meaning operations are postponed which creates a backlog impacting on hospital targets,” said one of the doctors.

Another doctor said, because of lack of electricity vaccines die and considering their cost, the hospital runs big expenses. “At emergency cases, doctors just look on as people die because it is against government regulation for a patient or their attendants to buy fuel,” the medic said.

MP Nabillah Injured In Accident, Rushed To IHK

http://redpepper.co.ug/welcome/?p=27842
SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 28 JANUARY 2012

Besigye (2-left) and Martin Byomuhangi (2-Right), carrying Nabillah towards Besigye's car

Kampala Woman Memeber of Parliament Nabillah Naggayi Sempala was seriously injured in an accident involving two police vehicles at the Rubaga church junction on Friday evening.

Besigye addressing a rally at Wankulukuku on Friday

Nabillah Sempala adressing a gathering at Wankulukuku before she got an accident on Friday

Nabillah lying on the floor after she was injured

The accident happened as police tried to block opposition supporters who had been attending an Activists for change (A4C) rally in Wankulukuku from following the MP and Forum for Democratic Change president Dr. Kizza Besigye.

MP Nabillah being helped from the ground after collapsing

Do not put her in our van, cop tells Nabillah's aides

Nabillah inside Besigye's car amidst pain

The Kampala woman MP who was flashing the FDC V-sign to her supporters on top of her car was injured in the abdomen when her vehicle collided head on with a police van, reg. No. UP 1928 and a police patrol pickup Reg. No. UP 2953.

Police beating up a female A4C supporter at Wankulukuku in Lubaga Division 

The MP was rushed to Kampala International Hospital. Earlier, there was a scuffle which the police Officer in charge of the operation who could not be identified blamed on human error.

4 Besigye Aides Clobbered By Police, Admitted

http://redpepper.co.ug/welcome/?p=27801
SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 28 JANUARY 2012

Mutyabula nursing injuries at Case Clinic yesterday

Three aides of Forum for Democratic Change president Kizza Besigye were admitted to Case Clinic after they were clobbered by police as they dispersed crowds at Kawempe Police Station following a botched rally.

Martin Byomuhangi, Yusuf Matovu, Mutyabula Kayondo and another identified only as Nasur were a bloody mess after cops thumped them while dispersing crowds at a rally organised by Activists For Change (A4C) at Kawempe grounds Thursday evening.
Besigye condemned police acts of aggression against opposition supporters and also accused them of being reactionary and acting on impulse even when they are not under threat from the crowds. He said police actions are always inspired by fear and intimidation from crowds saying the crowds only resort to throwing stones as the last line of defence.

The A4C officials have meanwhile postponed their Kololo rally that was slated for this afternoon reportedly to first exhaust the Kampala Metropolitan region.

Point Blank: Turinamwe's hidden Talents

Point Blank: Serving food with Politics

Police to prefer charges against A4C Leaders

Poliisi etomedde omubaka Nabilah

A4C hold successful Ndeeba rally

Besigye calls for Regime Change

Control your security Agents-FDC

http://256news.com/5036/control-your-security-agents-fdc/

SOURCE: 256NEWS.COM, 26 JANUARY 2012

 

The Forum for Democratic Change is calling on government to control its security agents in civilian clothes.
This follows Santos Komakech, a body guard to Kampala Capital City Authority Director for Physical planning, George Agaba, on Sunday shot at irate residents of Luzira, killing one person and injuring five others during an eviction exercise.
At the shooting, 20 families had been evicted from Railway Zone, Port Bell in Luzira.
FDC Deputy Spokesperson Toterebuka Bamwenda says the habit has been ongoing since February 16th 2006 when Lt. Ramathan Magara killed Vincent Kavuma and Gideon Makabayi injuring scores more at Bulange Mengo.
Bamwenda says the party is concerned that these actions are causing public anxiety as they point to the loss of control on the part of government.

Aba A4C bawaga: Bakubye olukungaana

A4C hold peaceful rally in Luzira

Parallel activities Banned as Uganda celebrates 50 years of independence

http://256news.com/5099/parallel-activities-banned-as-uganda-celebrates-50-years-of-independence/

SOURCE: 256NEWS.COM, 26 JANUARY 2012

President Museveni will preside over today’s celebrations to mark the  26 NRM anniversary  and Golden Jubilie celebrations culminating 50 years of Uganda’s  independence.
The National celebrations running under the theme Uganda the land of opportunities: NRM contribution during the the last half of the 50 years of Uganda’s independence’. are being held at Sebei college sports grounds.
The ceremony is being witnessed by president Paul Kagame of Rwanda  and Theodore Obiang Nguema Mbasog of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. kagame is one of the high profile guests to be awarded A gold medal in appreciation to his contribution towards the liberation struggle.
In Kampala, members of the opposition Forum for Democratic change are mobilising ugandans to mobilise paralel activities to Mourn the loss of the country to what it has called.
Ann Mugisha FDC secretary for international affairs speaking from Ghana says the mourning will start as soon as president Museveni steps foot in Kapchorwa.
Kampala Resident commissioner Alice Muwanguzi says no body will be allowed to hold parallel activities in Kampala.Muwanguzi says those who want to mourn should go to kapchorwa

A4C leaders clash with Police over exit routes

Treason case against FDC officials adjourned

By Juliet Kigongo   (email the author)

Posted  Monday, January 23  2012 at  12:57

The case in which three officials of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change party are charged with treason in connection with the Walk to Work protests was Monday morning extended for three weeks to allow the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Richard Buteera, to examine their police file.

The three, FDC’s women leader Ms. Ingrid Turinawe, Francis Mwijukye, the head of the FDC youth wing, and Mr. Sam Mugumya, a Political Assistant to Dr Kizza Besigye appeared before the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court presided over by Ms. Esta Nambayo for mention of their case. Their bail was however extended to February 13.

The three are part of the 15 opposition supporters arrested last year for planning the walk-to-work protests, an act the Police Chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura said amounted to treason.

Ms. Turinawe was last week charged before Kasangati Magistrate’s Court over failure to comply with orders of a police officer and two traffic violations: inconsiderate use of a public road, and driving a vehicle in a dangerous mechanical condition.

Mr. Mwijukye has since complained over what he calls “harsh” bail conditions that confine him to his village home in Ankole region, Western Uganda, from where he must seek police permission before travels.

According to the charge sheet the suspects allegedly mobilized the launching of simultaneous riots countrywide until government is overthrown.

Supporters shield Besigye from arrest

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1313516/-/b1g02oz/-/index.html

SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 25 JANUARY 2012

Dr Kizza Besigye addresses supporters in Kasangati yesterday. 

Police attempts yesterday to arrest opposition leader Kizza Besigye after a rally in Namungoona, a Kampala suburb, were thwarted after stone-throwing youth routed security personnel, creating a safe passage for the FDC leader.

The rally organised by the Activists for Change pressure group was slated to take place at Kasubi Market grounds but was shifted to a playground in Namungoona, about two kilometres away, after the police objected to the initial venue.

At 6:40pm, the FDC leader and A4C officials attempted to return to the city centre after the uneventful P. 4

Namugoona rally when police blocked their entourage from using the Kasubi route.

Dr Besigye, who had been instructed to use the Northern Bypass to his Kasangati home, disembarked from his vehicle to speak to the commanding officer at the scene.

The police insisted the politician must follow their instructions but Dr Besigye refused, insisting he must drive through Kasubi Trading Centre. The crowd also demanded that the politician be allowed to move freely.

In the melee, Dr Besigye was whisked away by his supporters in his vehicle and a high speed chase ensued between police and the FDC boss towards the Bwaise Suburb.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the residents who pelted them with stones. Several people were injured in the scuffle.

But in a statement late last evening, police boss Kale Kayihura said: “Today’s rally in consultation with the organisers has not registered any major incidents. The UPF (Uganda Police Force) wishes to highly commend the lawful and respectful approach upheld today.”

He, however, noted: “A small minority of people still appear reluctant to comply with the lawful instruction of the police and the agreement with event organisers. The UPF will not allow this tiny minority to threaten public safety, security and peace of mind or to interfere with other law-abiding participants in such events.”

At the Kalerwe round about, Daily Monitor photojournalist Isaac Kasamani was reportedly shot at by the occupants of the police van that attempted to snatch Dr Besigye. He was, however, not injured.

AFP journalist Michele Sibiloni and Bukedde TV cameraman Suleiman Mutebi were both attacked by unknown assailants who tried to escape with their equipment; a digital and video camera. The assailants were, however, unsuccessful.

Earlier at the rally, Dr Besigye told supporters it was time for Ugandans to take action against a rogue regime of armed robbers.

“It is no longer necessary to talk about the thieving, plundering and killing in the nation. It is time to chase the armed robbers,” Dr Besigye said. “I entered Kampala with these same people. They had nothing except what they were carrying.”

He added: “We should never allow the gun to rule Uganda again. Ugandans must love themselves and love their country. Museveni must know the people have rejected him; they have chased him away. It is the only way the thieves will understand this country belongs to Ugandans.”

Peaceful A4C Kireka rally turns rowdy

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1311972/-/b1haf0z/-/index.html

source: the daily monitor, 23 january 2012

Police block Dr Besigye from accessing the city at Spear Motors junction at the weekend.

A peaceful Activist for Change (A4C) public rally held at the weekend in Kireka, Kampala suburb, ended on a sour note when police fired tear gas to disperse a large crowd that was accompanying A4C officials to the city centre.

In an unfortunate turn of events, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Dr Kiiza Besigye, A4C coordinator Matthias Mpuuga, Kyaddondo East MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, and Busiro South MP Medard Segona were temporarily blocked by police from accessing the city centre through the Nakawa area.

The 3 pm rally was hosted by Mr Nganda at the St James Church grounds.
At the rally, Dr Besigye refuted media reports he was slated to hold talks with President Museveni.

Talks with Museveni

“I cannot talk to thieves,” Dr Besigye said.
He asked the public not to be fearful and called for unity amongst the opposition.

“You the people hold the power. This is not a time for parties. There are two kinds of people in Uganda today; the oppressors and the oppressed. We must unite to fight the oppressor,” Dr Besigye added.

Police formed a blockade at Banda, another Kampala suburb, to stop the mammoth crowd from proceeding with the officials. Police fired tear gas and bullets into the air to disperse the crowd.Police had initially overseen the rally without incident.
Chaos, however, started at about6.30pm when a large crowd attempted to accompany the A4C officials to the city centre.

There was an apparent conflict of operational orders at the scene on how to handle the swelling crowd. Jinja Road DPC Ashraf Chemonges, who seemed to be the operational commander, initially cautioned his officers not to fire tear gas at the approaching crowd.

But a plan-clothed security operative, however, instructed otherwise even after Mr Chemonges protested against the order. Amid the confusion, police opened fire dispersing the crowd.

Dr Besigye was told not to move in a convoy but refused to comply with it.
At the Spear Motors junction in Nakawa, police patrol pick-ups blocked the A4C officials from proceeding to the city centre through Nakawa.

Kayihura call
Kampala Metropolitan Police Chief Andrew Kaweesi the FDC president to approach the city through Ntinda instead to which Dr Besigye declined.
The situation turned sticky when Dr Besigye’s driver managed to maneuver their way between three police patrol vehicles and drove towards the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) offices, prompting police to give a chase.
For over an hour, Dr Besigye was blocked near URA.

A phone call from the Inspector General of Police Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura to Mr Kaweesi to speak to Dr Kiiza Besigye later saved the day. “I am the father and mother at home. I am going to the city to by food and do my meetings. I will enter the city through Nakawa,” Dr Besigye told Gen. Kayihura

Minutes later, the police pick-ups that had surrounded Dr Besigye’s vehicle sped off, allowing Dr Besigye to enter the city.

New faces of terror?

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1311470/-/b1heccz/-/index.html


SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 23 JANUARY 2012

Musa Walugembe (in black T-shirt), formerly an operative of the dreaded Rapid Response Unit, now disbanded, leads the mysterious but brutal group. 

IN SUMMARY

Officers or mafias? Their manners are covert, if not unconventional or outright wayward. Many are plain-clothed and have no identification yet are armed; raising the possibility armed rogues could exploit the lacuna.

The opposition Forum for Democratic Changer leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, on Friday drew on his medical knowledge to allege that the conduct of brawny commandos deployed in a special police van to trail and arrest him during demonstrations shows they are drug abusers.

“I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that they are full-time high on marijuana,” the opposition politician told a press conference at the IPC headquarters on Katonga Road in Kampala. “I am saying this both as an experienced observer and a medical worker.”

Police Spokesman Asuman Mugenyi, however, denied the allegation, calling it a “concoction”. “He is entitled to his opinion which is a concoction,” Mr Mugenyi said. He added: “I don’t think he would have kind words for the police. Any sane person would see that the allegations he is making are lies.”

First ‘dirty’ incident
Suspicions about elements of security forces consuming banned substances first surfaced during walk-to-work demonstrations last year, after a journalist photographed a soldier charging with a gun on demonstrators while simultaneously puffing away.

If the allegations were true, it would mean the Force members are breaking the very law they are mandated to enforce. Consumption of narcotic drugs such as opium, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine and Marijuana contravenes sections of the Penal Code.

Relations between police and Dr Besigye got strained after they arrested or blocked him about a dozen times since the walk-to-work protests, summoned by the opposition-leaning Activists for Change pressure group, erupted in April 2011.

Responding to the opposition activists’ insistence that they already wrote to notify police and will go ahead with planned rallies in and around Kampala beginning Saturday, Mr Mugenyi said: “They have their constitutional right to demonstrate, and we also have a constitutional obligation to maintain law and order and protect themselves and those not interested in (A4C) activities.”The ugliest incident was his April 28 capture at Mulago Roundabout that left the opposition leader partially blind. At the commencement of the walk-to-work phase II last October, police invoked a colonial-era legislation to place him under ‘preventive house arrest’ for about 10 days, a siege Dr Besigye successfully challenged in court.

Yesterday, Dr Besigye declared the police commandos who do not wear any uniforms and brandish assault rifles akin to the Chinese-made QBZ95 5.8mm weapon as “the police bangi squad”.

“It is now clearly a police marijuana unit composed of characters you see (wearing) tight black T-shirts; they are like kanyamas (body builders) and some [strap] pistols to the leg of their trousers.”

Those in the know have identified the dreaded group’s commander as Musa Walugembe, and said he previously was an operative under Rapid Response Unit (RRU) disbanded late last year for gross human rights abuses. The commandos parked at the Ssezibwa-Katonga Road junction, keeping an eagle eye on the IPC premises.

The Friday media conference came hours after Dr Besigye, together with 11 other opposition activists; among them MPs Ibrahim Ssemujju, Wafula Oguttu and Nabilah Ssempala, and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, were arrested on Thursday afternoon and detained for between five to seven hours at Kira and Jinja Road police stations.

Detectives preferred holding assault and traffic-related charges against the group that included FDC Women’s League head, Ms Ingrid Turinawe. None of them has been arraigned in court. JEEMA President Asuman Basalirwa, who heads the rotational chair of IPC, asked policemen to stop arresting female suspects, disgracing them in the process.

Earlier, Lord Mayor Lukwago said he is emboldened by the Thursday arrest and will mobilise to make Kampala “ungovernable” for President Museveni.

IPC Officials Arrested At Katonga Road

SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 21 JANUARY 2012

Besigye and another official being dragged by policemen during arrest a while ago

Top officials of Inter-Party coorperation have been arrested. The officials led by FDC president Dr Kiiza Besigye including MPs Wafula Oguttu, Nabilah Ssempala and Mathias Mpuuga among others were in a closed-door meeting that lasted over 4 hours planning a rally to relaunch walk to work protests at Freedom Tree in Katwe, a city suburb.

Others in attendance were  Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago and former  Kashari MP John Kazoora. They were rounded up and bundled onto police cars and whisked away. Besigye, in the trade mark no nonsense arrest he is accustomed to, was bundled onto a police pick up truck registration number UP 1928 while the other officials were ordered to board a police bus registration number UP 2967.

Wafula Oguttu pleads with a cop not to tear his white t-shirt during arrest

The officials had started their journey in a convoy of eight cars all heading to Katwe for the rally. As the convoy joined Ssezibwa road, police commanded by Kampala DPC Norman Musinga and Lawrence Nuwabaine intercepted them and started demanding for their driving permits.

There was heavy security deployment along Katonga Road, cordoning off IPC Offices on Plot 6 where the meeting was taking place.  “Even a fly could not escape,” a wowed onlooker told this reporter.

Masaka Municipality MP, Mathias Mpuuga, who is the A4C coordinator and organiser of the rally, had however been left to proceed before the arrests took place.

Mpuuga last week announced the resumption of the Walk to Work protests arguing that the situation had not changed since the last protests in April and May last year.

Earlier, police fired teargas to disperse people who had gathered around Kampala Woman MP Nabilah  Ssempala in Ndeeba as she attempted to drive to Katwe. Kampala Metropolitan Police director, Andrew Kaweesi said IPC officials  planned to walk in the morning but police deployed and blocked them. He said his men deployed  at the homes of the suspected officials including Ssempala, who had reportedly spent a night with Anne Mugisha.

Police also deployed at the homes of Besigye, Major General Mugisha Muntu, the FDC secretary for mobilisation, and Ssemujju among others. Kaweesi said up to 10,000 policemen have been deployed to manage the situation in the city. These include trainees from Police Training School, Kabalye.

Besigye To Drag Police To Court

SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 21 JANUARY 2012

Wafula Oguttu pleads with a cop not to tear his white t-shirt during arrest

Forum for Democratic Party president Col. Kizza Besigye has vowed to drag Uganda Police to the Constitutional Court seeking clarification on Article 24 of the constitution which he says the force is exploiting to persecute the opposition.

Besigye said this during a press briefing at the offices of Inter party cooperation (IPC) along Katonga Road. This follows the humiliating arrests of several top opposition politicians including Ingrid Turinawe, Mayor Erias Lukwago, Semujju Nganda, Wafula Ogutu among others yesterday as they headed to Katwe to a rally to relaunch the much dreaded walk to work riots. The IPC officials were not charged.

The hoarse voiced politician said police is harassing them in the name of preventive arrest.  Activists for change (A4C) a so called pressure group under the IPC is meant to hold rallies tomorrow at Kireka as they gear up for a relaunch of their walk to work protests next week.

As it is, it will not be a walk over after Kampala Metropolitan Police director, Andrew Kaweesi yesterday said they are deploying 10,000 cops to handle any disturbances.

Police Raid Nabillah’s home

SOURCE: THE RED PEPPER, 21 JANUARY 2012

Nabillah's home is under police siege

Hundreds of police officers have this morning stormed the Buziga home of Kampala woman MP Nabillah Nagayi and laid a siege around it. Neighbours have revealed to this reporter that a chuge crowd has formed around the residence making it inaccessible. Nabillah herself has confirmed this development in a text message to us.

“Police surrounding my home in Buziga now; I can’t leave and nobody else is allowed to leave the compound. Even people coming in have been blocked,” Nabillah told us a short while ago.

The police raid at the juicy MP’s upscale Buziga residence is deliberately meant to frustrate the Activists for Change (A4C) political defiance rally Nabillah is organizing at Katwe this morning.
As woman MP, she is free to call Kampala her entire constituency meaning she can have a rally anywhere within the district but police insist that the rally’s motives aren’t noble.

Police spokesperson Asuman Mugenyi says it’s part of a wider ploy to overthrow the government. Nabillah isn’t the first one to be confined within her house.

FDC leader Col Kizza Besigye has routinely been going through this. Police have sometimes laid siege at his home even in defiance of court orders directing them to leave.

Nabillah has deep interest for Makindye West in which Katwe is located because she wants to become area MP replacing Hussein Kyanjo who is on his way out.

Events like this highly emotive rally are one of the ways through which she can build momentum ahead of 2016 when she wants to relocate from woman MP to Makindye West MP. Her Katwe rally was scheduled to begin at 10am.