UGANDA: Besigye arrested as he visits city

Besigye who was going to the party headquarters in Kampala for the routine party prayers.

Uganda's main opposition leader Kizza Besigye (centre) is escorted by police officers to a police vehicle on February 22, 2016 in Kampala. Police in Kampala arrested Besigye who was going to the party headquarters at Najjanankumbi, Kampala for routine party prayers. AFP PHOTO | ISAAC KASAMANI 

KAMPALA, Tuesday

Police in Kampala arrested former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Kizza Besigye who was going to the party headquarters at Najjanankumbi, Kampala for the routine party prayers.

Dr Besigye left his home in Kasangati, Wakiso district early on Tuesday morning to attend the party’s routine prayers.

However, his procession was stopped by police after Kubiri Roundabout, Mulago before his car was towed away to Kira Road Police Station.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Mr Patrick Onyango, Dr Besigye defied police orders and was charged with participating in unlawful procession.

This comes just three days after the Inspector General of Police General Kale Kayihura instructed Kasangati Police Station Divisional Police Commander to withdraw security officers deployed at Besigye’s home in Kasangati, Wakiso district.

“Withdrawal of our officers from Besigye’s home is an extension of a token of good will but we expect him to respect the law.

Dr Besigye always goes about his business undisturbed. It’s only when we sense that he’s about to cause trouble that we contain him.

"UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY"

My hope is that even after we have shown him good will, he will not cause problems,” Gen Kayihura said while addressing the press at Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala. However, Kayihura added he asked the area police commander to keep a keen eye on Besigye’s movement.

Mr Onyango said police had “no problem” with Besigye attending prayers, but said the politician was arrested, “because he was moving with a procession” and refused to abide by a police order to follow a particular route through the city.

“We advised him, ‘For your safety and the safety of everybody, please take this route, don’t pass through the city centre’,” Mr Onyango said, adding that Besigye’s procession contravened a public order law that insists permission for gatherings be sought in advance.

Mr Onyango said Besigye would be charged with unlawful assembly.

Police were withdrawn from outside Besigye’s private residence on Friday after 43 days. Besigye said his detention was designed to block him from gathering evidence of fraud in what he called a “scandalous” election.

Museveni, in power since 1986, was declared winner of the February poll with 61 percent of the vote and has rejected claims that his victory was won through cheating and fraud.

Another opposition leader’s legal challenge to the election result was dismissed by the Supreme Court the day before Besigye’s house arrest was ended.

Daily Nation