Policeman killed as Besigye is released on police bond
SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 22 MARCH 2012
Kampala Metropolitan police boss Andrew Kaweesi and other security operatives arrest Dr Besigye (C) in Kampala yesterday.
IN SUMMARY
AIP John Bosco Ariong dies after reportedly being struck by an object as police disperse A4C supporters.
KAMPALA
FDC leader Kizza Besigye, released on Police bond Wednesday evening, will have to report to Police on Friday following the killing of a policeman on the city's Ben Kiwanuka street. Dr. Besigye was participating in a city road inspection tour led by Kampala mayor Erias Lukwago.
The tour turned chaotic as police attempted to prevent Lukwago's entourage from accessing the central business district of the city. In the resultant chaos as police fired tear gas and some demonstrators retaliated with stone throwing, an Assistant Inspector of Police John Bosco Ariong was critically injured and later died of the head injury.
Ariong, left behind by a wife and eight children, was struck by an object as police dispersed a crowd which attempted to join Activists for Change (A4C) in a walk into the city centre.
In a statement last evening, Deputy Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said violence against police officers on duty would be sternly dealt with and that those responsible for the death would be brought to justice although investigations were still at a very early stage.
“Ariong, a 48-year-old, served the Force for 26 years and died en route to hospital having been hit by a rock on his head,” Ms Nabakooba said. She said the “murdered officer” had been deployed as part of an operation to ensure the maintenance of public order during an illegal procession led by Dr Kizza Besigye.
Dr Besigye, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Kampala Woman MP Nabilah Ssempala and Kawempe Mayor Mubarak Munyagwa, and others, had just inspected roadworks at the nearby Kafumbe Mukasa Road when police moved in to break up the crowd that had gathered.
As the group approached Ben Kiwanuka Street, police formed a blockade, stopping them from proceeding further. The road was blocked for over 40 minutes as senior police officers negotiated with Dr Besigye and A4C supporters. Chaos erupted when stones and other objects were hurled at the police, prompting them to respond with teargas.
By press time yesterday, Ariong’s body was at Mulago Hospital mortuary where a post-mortem is to be conducted.
Ms Ssempala, Ms Ingrid Turinawe, Mr Lukwago and Mr Munyagwa were detained at Kira Road Police Station before being released on police bonds.
Initially, there was confusion as it was thought that the opposition leaders were being detained at the Central Police Station (CPS).
Initially, there was confusion as it was thought that the opposition leaders were being detained at the Central Police Station (CPS).
Accompanied by supporters, FDC’s Alice Alaso, Wafula Oguttu and Salaam Musumba rushed to CPS where they demanded to see Dr Besigye. The FDC leader’s lawyer Ernest Kalibala was also in another room at CPS demanding to see his client. Police, however, could not produce the leaders because they were not at the station. “They should produce Dr Besigye now or things will get worse right here,” Ms Alaso demanded.
By 4pm CPS was jammed with opposition politicians and A4C supporters who were becoming agitated.
This newspaper later learnt that Dr Besigye was released and forcibly driven to his Kasangati home. He, however, insisted on staying with the rest of the detainees, forcing the police to drive him to Kira Road Police Station.
Meanwhile, the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Uganda (FCAU) issued a statement last night strongly condemning the alleged beating up of one if its members by police.
“Edward Echwalu, a freelance photojournalist who works for Reuters and The Observer, said he was beaten by four policemen using batons and a rifle butt outside Kira Road Police Station,” the statement read in part.
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