Police have arrested Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye as he tried Monday to access the Kampala Central Business District using the Kampala – Jinja Road.
Mr Semujju Nganda, the FDC spokesperson told Daily Monitor that Dr Besigye had been arrested as he proceeded for scheduled rallies in the Central Business District.
“Museveni has declared all public places in Kampala Central a no go area for Opposition. We wanted to have a rally at Nakivubo Stadium but police blocked us. This has left us with no choice but to address voters on the streets and roads,” he said.
Before his arrest, Police led by Kampala Central Police Station DPC Aaron Baguma, had blocked Dr Besigye from using Kampala Road suggesting that he uses Mukwano Road to access the city.
However, Dr Besigye rejected the suggestion. He tried to access the city through Nasser Road but was blocked again before police teargased and dispersed his rowdy supporters.
He is currently being held at Kira Road police station.
Efforts to get a comment from police were futile as our repeated phone calls to police spokesperson, Mr Fred Enanga and Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Patrick Onyango went unanswered.
According to the Electoral Commission campaign schedule, Dr Besigye has planned rallies in parts of Central Kampala, including Nakivubo Stadium.
Dr Besigye’s arrest comes just a day after police chief Gen Kale Kayihura warned him against addressing campaign rallies at night, but defended the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, Yoweri Museveni over the same.
Gen. Kale Kayihura said Dr Besigye has been adamant to police calls to respect the Electoral Commission regulations on time on public rallies and traffic, and warned the force was prepared to use force to disperse his crowds.
“We have told Dr Besigye to stop, but the man is completely not bothered. I am making this statement on behalf of the security agencies…we aren’t going to allow him to paralyse the streets and highways,” Gen Kayihura said over the weekend.
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Kizza Besigye arrested along Jinja Road
