Kirunda Kivejinja, the internal affairs minister has defended a move by police to block the walk to work protests.
The “Walk to Work” protest, a brainchild of Kiiza Besigye, the FDC president was foiled on Monday and several opposition leaders arrested.
The protest is intended to highlight the plight of Ugandans who are trying to make ends meet as the price of food and fuel knock an all time high.
Besigye vowed to stage another walk to work protest this morning but once again he was intercepted at Kasangati Health center. Besigye told VOA Wednesday he and the other opposition leaders have every right, under Uganda’s constitution, to walk to work without intimidation.
Kivejinja says, while it is true that most people walk in Africa, walking, as a form protest is another issue.
Kirunda Kivejinja, argues that the constitution which guarantees the freedom of everybody, also says that, in exercising your freedom, make sure that you don’t disturb the freedom of others.
He says that anybody wants to demonstrate, must inform the police and explain the people participating in the protests, the routes being taken and final destination, so police can organize security for the protesters.
Besigye admits that problems such as the high cost of fuel and food are not unique to Uganda. But, says the government of President Yoweri Museveni should have put in place contingency plans to deal with these unforeseen crises.
Kivejinja on the other hand says Besigye has no mandate to claim to be speaking for the people of Uganda, because he had the chance during Uganda’s recent election to bring about an alternative government, but failed to win the election.
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