Ready for action against peaceful demonstratorsKaihura in serious Competition with Hollywood
Ali Balunywa in Kampala
Events unfolding in Kampala, Uganda last week seemed like a thriller (movie) directed by Major General Kale Kaihura, the Inspector General of the Uganda Police force, seconded from the Uganda Army by the president of Uganda. The actors included opposition politicians under their umbrella “Activists4Change” organization.
During the first week of April, opposition politicians belonging to all parties met and agreed to form the organization-Activists4Change. They also decide to walk to work every Monday and Thursday in sympathy with Ugandan workers who walk to and from work everyday because they can’t afford to use buses or taxis. Another objective was to demand government to do something about the serious price hikes for all necessities of life including fuel.
Drama unfolded on Monday 11 April 2011. I had just flown in from Kigali and was resting at home and decided to catch up with news. NBS station was broadcasting live from Kasangati. Dr Kizza Besigye, the leader of Forum for Democratic Change party, was surrounded by mean looking security in different types of uniform. He was being prevented from walking from his home to his office 20 kilometers away. It seemed like over 100 police officers with anti riot gear including APCs, pick-ups, tear gas canisters and water cannons… Here was a small army of heavily armed Uganda security accosting one unarmed civilian.
Dr Besigye stood his ground and insisted it was his democratic right to walk to his office, but the tough talking security informed him that they had orders “from above” not to allow him to proceed. They formed a human ring around him, and he decided to sit in the centre of the ring. Father Anthony Musala, a catholic priest who lives close by expressed dismay at how the police was treating a leader of the opposition: “ This is an infringement of people’s rights and of the rights of our brother” he said.
Sooner than later, the commander announced that Besigye was under arrest and he ordered his men to force him onto the police truck. He was lifted off the ground like a bag of potatoes and physically thrown onto the truck! In an interview with the Monitor newspaper, Dr Besigye said: “They threw me on top of a patrol pick-up truck and drove like mad men, almost knocking everything and swerving dangerously until we got to Kasangati police post from where they threw me in a cell”
Elsewhere, the drama continued to develop as other opposition leaders where picked and shared the same treatment Dr Besigye received. In Ntinda, a suburb of Kampala city, Mr. Norbert Mao, the president of the oldest party in Uganda - the Democratic Party while trying to walk with a number of party members was forced not to. Gunfire, tear gas and a few beatings of civilians culminated in the arrest of Mao and his assistants. They were imprisoned at Kira Road Police station in the North east of the city.
Other opposition leaders including members of parliament were arrested on Jinja road just close to the city. These included: Wafula Oguttu, Nandala Mafabi, Anne Mugisha, Abdu Katuntu, Jack Sabiiti, Phiona Busingye and Peace Kansiime who where denied entry to the city and they too received the Besigye treatment of being thrown onto police pick-up trucks and imprisoned at the Jinja Road Police Station.
Moses Kasibante, another leader was arrested in Rubaga division and imprisoned at Old Kampala police station. Asuman Basalirwa, the leader of JEEMA party, Mathias Mpuuga of Masaka and Odonga Otto managed to walk to their offices without incident. Ken Lukyamuzi, president of the Conservative Party and Betty Nambooze tried to walk but the police turned them back to their homes.
All this drama was unfolding live on most television and FM radio stations. Social networking sites like face book and Twitter were also providing minute-by-minute updates.
Later in the day all the arrested politicians were paraded in different courts and given bail to regain their freedom. They will report to court at a future date. The released politicians have vowed to continue walking to their work places every Monday and Thursday. They have also promised not to ask for bail if they are arrested.
The Uganda government has been condemned by all sectors of society and foreign governments. The Uganda Human rights Commission boss, Mr. Meddie Kaggwa had this to say: “It is worrying that the police as an institution for protecting human rights is topping the list of brutalizing Ugandans through tortures, unlawful arrests and detentions.”
In a statement, the United States State department acting deputy spokesman Mr. Mark V. Toner expressed Washington’s concern over the arrest of former presidential candidates Kizza Besigye, Mao and other opposition leaders participating in a walk to work protest over rising prices in the country. It reminded the government of Uganda of freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly are fundamental human rights and critical components of a functioning democracy.
The British government echoed the US government’s position thus: “ the British government encourages the Uganda police to respond proportionally to public order situations”: Mr. Chris Ward of the British High Commission in Kampala said.
Amnesty international commented that: Uganda’s unjust ban on public rallies is part of an unlawful blanket ban against all forms of public assemblies that has been in place since the conclusion of the February general elections on the grounds of ensuring public security.
Uganda law society noted with great the prevailing situation/events in the country orchestrated by the police force under Inspector General of Police, major General Kale Kaihura, leading to the brutal dispersal and arrest of peaceful demonstrating/walking citizens especially targeting opposition parties.
The following Thursday 14 April 2011, the members of “Activists4Change” group again attempted to walk from their residences to work. The police was more brutal this time. Dr Kizza Besigye was shot in the arm, several members of parliament and leading opposition leaders were arrested, some imprisoned and others harassed. In Kasangati near Kampala an 8-month pregnant lady was shot in the stomach and her intestines came out. She is in hospital, and doctors claimed the baby was fine. At the same place police and military fired tear gas in a primary school and a health centre causing pain to the pupils and patients.
In Northern Uganda, the arrest of Norbert Mao, the Democratic Party president while walking caused chaos in the city. Trigger-happy policemen shot at the crowds and 3 people lost their lives! The walk to work action spread to most towns in Uganda. The police treated all walkers the same way – tear gas, harassment and arrests.
During his victory speech after the February 18th presidential elections, Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni promised to crush the opposition and eat them like samosas and cakes! 15 years ago, the president used to accuse the police of being opposition supporters because those times it was a civil force. The president then decided to appoint military generals to head the force. Since then the police is viewed as anti people, uses tear gas to disperse unarmed civilians, tortures suspects and generally regards the opposition as enemies of government. Government has acquired for them equipment that reminds one of the apartheid regime 20 years ago!
The country is bracing for more walk to work tomorrow. It is envisaged that more walkers in more places will participate in tomorrow’s walk to work. I shall keep you updated.
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