Police used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse people who had gathered in Kasese town on Monday afternoon to welcome Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party president, Patrick Oboi Amuriat and the former FDC presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye.
The duo had travelled to Kasese together with Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC the national mobilisation secretary to engage elected party leaders and officials on the shadowy 'People’s Government'.
Shortly after the meeting at Rwenzori International hotel in Kasese town, Besigye and Amuriat moved through Kasese town waving to residents amidst ululations. Some of the residents chanted Adam Mulwana’s pro-Besigye song, “Toka kwa Barabara” and followed the vehicles of the FDC officials in what turned into a procession.
The duo had travelled to Kasese together with Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC the national mobilisation secretary to engage elected party leaders and officials on the shadowy 'People’s Government'.
Shortly after the meeting at Rwenzori International hotel in Kasese town, Besigye and Amuriat moved through Kasese town waving to residents amidst ululations. Some of the residents chanted Adam Mulwana’s pro-Besigye song, “Toka kwa Barabara” and followed the vehicles of the FDC officials in what turned into a procession.
Police blocked the motorcade around Shauriyako market to stop the FDC members from proceeding. As the number of FDC supporters surged, police fired teargas and live bullets to disperse the crowds. The supporters fought back and pelted the officers with stones prompting them to open the road but kept Besigye and Amuriat’s cars in the middle.
Muhindo, who also doubles as deputy opposition chief whip in parliament, said there was no need for police to use bullets and teargas against people who were jubilating and celebrating the arrival of their leaders. Muhindo accused the security agency of misusing the contentious Public Order Management Act (POMA).
"As the leaders from the opposition, we have put government to task to make sure that the security forces do not misinterpret and misuse the legal mandate that is provided in the Public Order Management Act. We’re already pushing to ensure that this law gets some amendments that will bring freedoms of leaders, freedoms of the people to assemble." Muhindo said.
Last week leaders from the different political parties met under the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) over POMA and it was agreed between government officials and opposition that police was misinterpreting the law. Government conceded to some opposition demands but with the 2021 election tensions rising, it remains to be seen if government will grant any further political space to opposition to mobilise and engage with the electorate.
President Museveni over the weekend made it clear that voters should not be 'confused' by the opposition with wrong information.
"Unfortunately police and other security agencies including the UPDF has not allowed that the people of Kasese to get the opportunity to listen to the status of this economy where everything is really going in a mess. The leaders were going to inform, were going to let the people know about the status of these social services that are deteriorating a day after another." Muhindo added.
But Kasese deputy resident district commissioner Joshua Masereka, said they couldn’t allow Besigye and his entourage to hold a procession or a rally within the town center. He said they were not perturbed with the visit of the opposition leader but didn’t want a procession in the middle of the town.
But Kasese deputy resident district commissioner Joshua Masereka, said they couldn’t allow Besigye and his entourage to hold a procession or a rally within the town center. He said they were not perturbed with the visit of the opposition leader but didn’t want a procession in the middle of the town.
"We told the police to withdraw completely. So really when the man says we had already deployed, no, no, no. We had to withdraw all the police and previously you used to see mambas [armoured police vehicle] going around here. But for us we decided that if he is going to hold a rally in Nyakasanga let him go to Nyakasanga but not in the town centre." Masereka said.
Initially, the opposition party was meant to hold a rally at Nyakasanga playground in Kasese but it was too blocked by police.
Initially, the opposition party was meant to hold a rally at Nyakasanga playground in Kasese but it was too blocked by police.