Friends For Peace In Africa

Hoima/Kampala

Heavily-armed Police in Hoima town yesterday whipped supporters of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change and teargassed the party’s leader, Dr Kizza Besigye.

In the street melee that began around 12:45p.m at Butanjwa trading centre, about five kilometres from the town centre, the Police used three vehicles to block Dr Besigye’s motorcade from entering the town.

Mr Marcellino Wanitho, the regional Police commander (Mid-western), who led the operation, said the huge crowd that gathered to receive the FDC leader was illegal since he was on a “private visit”.

Daily Monitor was told that Dr Besigye, who is President Museveni’s main political challenger, visited to commiserate with Hoima Town Council chairman Francis Atungoza, who on Thursday was remanded to Kiryatete Prisons over alleged abuse of office.

After the visit to Mr Atungonza, who is also FDC’s national secretary for trade and industry, organisers said Dr Besigye was scheduled to address, at the Boma Grounds, a joint rally of four political parties, under the Inter-party Political Cooperation.

Officials of FDC, the Uganda People’s Congress, JEEMA and the Conservative Party are on a tour of the country, to explain the purpose of their cooperation and vital developments for a free and fair 2011 ballot.

The prison trip, Police say, was endorsed but not the rally. Security officials said the Boma Grounds, where the parties planned to address supporters, had already been reserved for President Museveni who is expected later today to address some 700 district and lower local government leaders drawn from across the country.

RPC Wanitho said: “The instruction to the Inter-party Political Cooperation members was clear. If they act to the contrary, we have stocked enough tear gas and standby Policemen to handle the situation.”

Earlier in the day, ecstatic residents lined up the Hoima-Kampala highway at Kinuubi trading centre, chanting pro-FDC slogans, flashing the party’s V-sign and dancing.

Residents blocked
Police immediately swung into action shoving them away and beating with canes and batons those who resisted.

“Why are you behaving like this?” Dr Besigye asked RPC Wanitho. The Police chief replied: “I respect you but I have to screen your convoy.” In a hurriedly organised press conference shortly after the chaos, Dr Besigye criticised the Police for their partisan take.

“This is a rogue regime that disrespects the rule of law and human rights,” he said. “We came to visit our person who was imprisoned because of the usual persecution we go through and also talk to our people about the Inter-party cooperation but we were welcomed by anti-riot Police. ”

The Police also obstructed efforts by Mr Patrick Baguma, the FDC national vice chairperson for Western Uganda, to organise a rally in another part of the town. With about 14 months to the next elections, the conduct of the Police yesterday will again bring the spotlight on the role of security agencies in the electoral process and continued allegations of their partisan stand.

After visiting the prison, Dr Besigye said Mr Atugonza, who is allegedly being coerced to join the ruling NRM party as a price for his freedom, is “healthy and strong in spirit”.