Powerful Uganda opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his party, Forum of Democratic change(FDC) supporters have had a nasty encounter with the police after gathering at a rally that was slated to be attended by both former and current party presidents, Dr Kizza Besigye and Mr Patrick Oboi Amuriat respectively.
Mr Lule Hussein was seriously injured in the unprovoked Police attack in Iganga town yesterday. Among the others injured is Ssenyonga Obadiah, Muwaya Mudasuru &Mubialiwo Brian. They’re receiving treatment in various clinics in Iganga. Thanks to all activists that helped out. pic.twitter.com/pJ6Idc91vF
— Kifefe Kizza-Besigye (@kizzabesigye1) May 30, 2019
Upon arrival in Iganga Town on Wednesday, the group led by Mr Besigye, beat police surveillance and inspected potholes on Saza Road.
The one-kilometre stretch has been impassable, and two weeks ago, a group of residents staged a demonstration demanding for its immediate rehabilitation which left ten residents arrested.
After a Leaders’ meeting, we inspected Iganga’s Ssaza Road, one Iganga’s most busy/ important roads but now almost impassable!
It’s a big shame for the Municiparity. People recently demonstrated over it &several of our leaders were detained. Pressure must be maintained. @PGovUg pic.twitter.com/WyILFqEZ0X
— Kifefe Kizza-Besigye (@kizzabesigye1) May 29, 2019
Accompanied by their supporters, the party officials led a procession around Iganga Town before heading to the party offices along Daudi-Waiswa Road from where they were intercepted by police led by the DPC, David Ndaula, who tried to switch off the Public Address System.
Like we expected, when we got to Iganga FDC offices, where our Leaders’ meeting was to be, Police swung into action to disperse the people.
They underestimated resistance of Iganga people! Live bullets, teargas &fragmentation grenades were fired with no effect!#2019YearOfAction pic.twitter.com/AbH1Nn2Qlx— Kifefe Kizza-Besigye (@kizzabesigye1) May 29, 2019
Mr Ndaula said the group was holding an illegal assembly since they had not sought clearance from the IGP.
“This assembly is illegal; if you wanted to hold a rally you would have followed the procedure as required by the Public Order Management Act,” he said.
However, the group refused to vacate the premises prompting police to fire teargas and live bullets in the air to ward off Besigye and Igrid Turinawe who were proceeding to address the gathering.
“This country is ours and what the regime is doing to muzzle our rights and freedom is a wastage of time. We shall overcome this oppression within a short time,” Mr Besigye said before he was interrupted by gunshots.
After about an hour of cat-and-mouse chase, the FDC officials retreated and drove towards the Iganga-Jinja highway where police, amidst gunshots and teargas, blocked them from turning towards Bugiri and asked them to drive towards Jinja.
Besigye and his team first rejected the order and instead parked their cars on the roundabout, paralysing traffic for about 30 minutes.