UGANDA’S MAIN opposition leader was arrested yesterday morning after he attempted to lead protests against the rising cost of fuel and food in the east African country.
Kizza Besigye, who finished second behind President Yoweri Museveni in February’s presidential election, was detained while making his way to a “walk to work” demonstration near his home in northern Kampala. He was later freed on bail, after being charged with inciting violence and failure to comply with lawful orders.
The leader of the opposition Democratic Party, Norbert Mao, who finished third in February’s election, was also arrested.
Dr Besigye, who has a long history of scrapes with the authorities, set off from his home near Kasangati before eight o’clock yesterday morning with his personal assistant. He intended to join a group of supporters, but was blocked by at least five police vehicles and prevented from doing so.
After a two-hour stand off, he was forced on to the back of a police truck, after which a crowd of people began throwing stones.
They were later dispersed with tear gas.
Police claimed the demonstrations, which were announced on Sunday, would promote ”public disorder”.
“While we recognise and support the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of speech and all other liberties, the Uganda police force has the constitutional obligation to detect and prevent crime, maintain law and order and protect people and their properties,” said Maj Gen Kale Kayihura, head of the police force.
The opposition claimed the protests were never intended to be violent. “They were just walking down the street and into work to show our frustration at the current economic crisis,” said Reagan Okumu, an MP with Dr Besigye’s Forum for Democratic Change party. “We simply wanted to say that the government must do something about it. This shows a real lack of confidence by the ruling party.”
A prolonged drought in east Africa and the crisis in Libya have sent the prices of staple foods and fuel soaring in recent months, with Uganda’s inflation rate accelerating to 11.1 per cent in March from 6.4 per cent in February. The government has said that it does not have the capacity to control rising prices, as they are governed by external factors.
Mr Museveni, who has been in power for 25 years, was re-elected two months ago in polls tarnished by several irregularities, including widespread allegations of corrupt practices. Both Dr Besigye and Mr Mao, who polled 26 per cent and 2 per cent respectively, claimed that it was rigged.
During the campaign Dr Besigye, a former physician to Mr Museveni, said that Uganda was ripe for Egypt-style protests, but voting passed off peacefully, due in part to a heavy security presence.
This is not the first time Dr Besigye has been arrested. During elections in 2006 he was arrested and charged with treason and rape after returning from exile in South Africa. He was later acquitted – long after voting had finished.