Sunday, 26 February 2012
Besigye held for hours in Namasuba church
SOURCE: tHE DAILT monitor, 26 february 2012
Kampala North Operation Commander, Sam Omala, flashes the NRM party thumb sign to opposition supporters yesterday during an A4C rally in Namasuba, Kampala. Photo by Isaac Kasamani
IN SUMMARY
Adamant. The opposition have vowed to continue with country-wide political rallies calling on Ugandans to advocate change in government.
Police on Friday night held FDC President Dr Kizza Besigye and other opposition politicians for several hours inside Omega Healing Church in Namasuba after a disagreement on which route Besigye and his supporters should use after a rally.
Dr Besigye and other members of Action for Change, who had addressed a rally at the church premises, wanted to use Entebbe Road but Police blocked and ordered them to use Gabunga Road that connects between Entebbe and Masaka roads.
They were later released after midnight and allowed to use Entebbe Road after Dr Besigye’s supporters had been dispersed with teargas.
The leader of FDC Women League, Ms Ingrid Turinawe, said they were surrounded as shooting ensued to disperse the gathering crowds.
“We didn’t know what was happening. We were blocked and remained stuck in our cars until late,” she said.
During the scuffle, cars of three opposition politicians including that of Dr Besigye, Kyadondo East MP Ibrahim Ssemuju and FDC deputy secretary for Defence Salim Angoliga were smashed.
“I cannot say it was police that shuttered my car but I blame them for creating that situation,” he said.Mr Ssemuju said his car was hit as police fired tear gas at Dr Besigye’s supporters who pelted stones at the police.
However, Kampala Metropolitan Chief Andrew Kaweesi instead blamed the opposition for inciting its supporters at the rallies.
“Dr Besigye and his colleagues will always be victims of their own perpetuated violent activities because stones have no eyes when his supporters are throwing them. They incite the youths not to fear at the rallies. What do you expect from these stone-wielding crowds?” he said.
This is the second time Dr Besigye’s car is shuttered in similar circumstances after police smashed a windscreen of his car before spraying him pepper last April.
At the rally that took place outside Omega Church, the opposition called on its supporters to unite and “overthrow” the NRM government using massive uprising.
Injuries, more rallies
The opposition is planning upcountry rallies starting next month.
The opposition is planning upcountry rallies starting next month.
Several opposition politicians were injured last week as police dispersed an opposition Activists for Change rally in Katwe
Friday, 24 February 2012
Friday, 10 February 2012
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Listen to us, Uganda opposition tells Govt
SOURCE: THE NEW VISION, 7 FEBRUARY 2012
Oppostion political parties leader. From left Olara Otunnu (UPC), Mike Mabikke (SDP) and Kizza Besigye (FDC).
Opposition political parties have asked the government to listen to their views or they will pull out of the National Consultative Forum (NCF).
Mathias Nsubuga, secretary general of Democratic said they supported the NCF, as platform for dialogue for political parties to dialogue. This was during the second meeting of the NCF held in Kampala.
“It is useless if we talk and nothing is done. If government does not listen we will stop coming here,” Nsubuga. NCF is set up the by Constitution and the Political Parties and Other Organisations Act 2005.
Nsubuga said they were concerned about issues of freedom assembly, economic problems, funding of parties, free and fair elections, democracy, safety, security of people and human rights violations.
The NCF is supposed to resolve disputes among parties, present views of parties to the Electoral Commission and ensure parties adhere to an agreed code of conduct.
Ruhakana Ruganda, chairman of the NCF said they were not under any political pressure to organize the meeting.
Rugunda also minister for information and communication technology and NRM chair of the Electoral Commission said they were implementing provisions of the Constitution which creates the NCF.
Rugunda who chaired the meeting the parties have to develop an agreed code of conduct and would also hold a retreat to discuss all the challenges facing parties in Uganda. Ruganda recalled that for Uganda to fight Idi Amin, they met in Moshi under the umbrella of the Uganda National Liberation Front headed by the late Yusuf Lule.
“Government firmly believes in this institution. We want to build the culture of parties working together. We should respect and listen to each other. We should a convergence of views on things that are important to Uganda although we remain as different parties,” Ruganda said.
Sam Rwakoojo, secretary of the NCF and also secretary general of the Electoral Commission noted that the law mandates the party in power to chair the NCF and FDC, which is the second biggest party, holds the position of deputy.
He said Uganda has 49 registered parties and all had been invited to attend. Rwakoojo said it taken time to form the NCF, because NRM delayed to appoint the chairman and last year opposition parties appointed Amanya Mushega, vice chairperson of FDC as deputy chairman of NCF.
Abed Bwanika, president Peoples Development Party said the forum was a good idea and parties were stakeholders in Uganda’s development process.
“There are issued to bargain from government which we do through NCF. The politics of Uganda has been one of violence. We need to dialogue,” Bwanika said.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
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