Kampala city center turned chaotic today as police attempted to block a demonstration by opposition leader Kizza Besigye and supporters of his Forum for Democratic Change party (FDC).
Besigye, together with executive members of the FDC and a number of his supporters, were intercepted at the Old Taxi Park in downtown Kampala this morning as they mobilized people join their demonstration.
The FDC demonstration was planned to protest against the besieging of the High Court in Kampala last week by armed security personnel. The party is also objecting to the continued detention of a group of suspected members of the People's Redemption Army (PRA) who have been in jail since 2005 despite being granted bail by the High Court.
Anti-riot police pursued Besigye and his supporters through Queen's Way to City House on Luwum Street. The police fired tear gas at the crowd, sending some of the demonstrators fleeing.
Besigye retreated to the parliament, escorted by about 100 FDC supporters. His vehicle was soon surrounded by police who blocked his entry into Parliament for about 30 minutes and sealed off Parliamentary Avenue.
Besigye and the FDC Chief National Mobiliser, Mugisha Muntu, were later granted access to Parliament where they are expected to hold a meeting with opposition MPs and some parliamentarians from the ruling National Resistance Movement.
Muntu who says the meeting is intended to discuss ways to resolve the ongoing grievances between the party and the government
// Cue in: First there is no law that we broke#
Cue out: #we need to be resolved in this Country.i//
The Opposition Chief Whip Kasiano Wadri alleged that there was a ploy by the State to re-arrest Besigye. FDC Vice President, Salaamu Musumbu, also accuses Government of plotting to assassinate Besigye.
//Cue in: iWe are not going to stand #
Cue out: #it's the only agenda that this government wants.i //
Many shops and offices along Kampala and Jinja roads were closed during chaos. The Constitutional Square has been sealed off by anti-riot police and all roads to the High Court have been blocked to traffic.
