Ugandan opposition candidate arrested days before poll
Date
2/15/2016 7:49:12 PM
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) One of the main challengers to Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni in this week’s election was arrested Monday his lawyer said.
Dr. Kizza Besigye who aims to end Museveni’s 30-year rule in Thursday’s poll was arrested at a rally in capital Kampala at around midday after police fired tear gas to disperse supporters. He was taken to Kira Road police station in an escort of five patrol cars.
His lawyer David Mpanga confirmed the arrest to Anadolu Agency. “It's true my client has been arrested and is being kept at Kira Road police station” he said.
“We are yet to get an explanation from the police as to why he has been arrested because according to the Electoral Commission schedule he was supposed to hold several rallies within the city.”
Besigye was later released and spoke at his home in Kasangati to the northeast of Kampala.
“I was arrested but they didn't make me record any statement at Kira Road police station” he told a crowd or journalists and supporters. “They just ordered that I be taken home. I am still defiant. I urge my supporters to stay firm [and] participate in the poll vote on Thursday.
“What the police are doing is a sign of a falling regime. Our rallies were harmonized by the Electoral Commission and the police are fully aware that we are holding rallies today in the city center.”
The opposition leader was later driven back into Kampala his vehicle surrounded by supporters on motorcycles chanting “One people one Uganda”.
Following the arrest there were reports of clashes in central Kampala between police and opposition followers.
Later running battles took place in Kampala between police and the opposition as Bissigye’s car was held up and he was prevented from addressing further rallies.
At Wandegeya roundabout a major road junction in north Kampala Besigye’s car was surrounded by riot police who attached a chain to the vehicle to tow it away using a police armored car.
There were unconfirmed reports of at least one person killed and others injured as police fired tear gas canisters into crowds of Besigye supporters who responded by throwing rocks and setting tires ablaze.
Eight candidates are running for the presidency but Museveni Besigye and Museveni's former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi are seen as the main contenders.
Besigye has lost three previous elections to Museveni but his supporters have claimed that vote rigging violence by security forces and the illegal use of public funds helped the president retain his grip on power.
By Halima Athumani
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