A group of Forum for Democratic Change youths is reportedly heading to Kasangati to visit their leader Dr Kiiza Besigye, who is under house arrest.
Action for Change official and FDC secretary for external relations Anne Mugisha told reporters on Friday that DP president Norbert Mao is also heading to Kasangati to pick Besigye, who has been invited to attend a joint opposition parliamentary caucus. The caucus is to take place later in the day at Hotel Royale. It is not clear whether police that has maintained a heavy presence at the FDC leader’s home will allow the youths or Mao to see Besigye, let alone allowing him to move out of his home.
The deputy police spokesperson Vincent Sekate, when contacted said he was in Lira and referred the URN reporter to Ibn Ssekumbi, the Kampala Metropolitan publicist. But Ssekumbi also refused to comment in turn referring the reporter to Judith Nabakooba, the overall spokesperson.
Besigye was arrested on Tuesday as he tried to participate in the walk to work protests, in what police described as preventive arrest.
But now A4C officials are setting conditions to government, in relation to Besigye’s arrest and that of other activists who were detained this week.
Mugisha outlined three conditions including immediate and unconditional release of all walk to work suspects detained around the country. The other conditions are unconditional dropping of all charges against A4C members including what they called ludicrous charges leveled against those on remand. According to Mugisha, A4C are also calling for immediate end to the siege of Dr Besigye’s house by security forces, ending his house arrest and guaranteeing his and other activists’ freedom of movement and association.
AFC cites arrests that were conducted in the districts of Isingiro, Bushenyi, Mbarara and Hoima among others, where suspects have reportedly been denied access to food brought by their relatives. In Nangabo Sub County, two people including a local council one official were allegedly picked up on Thursday night and their whereabouts are unknown. In Bushenyi and Isingiro districts, 13 people were arrested this week and have not been produced in court. According to A4C, the suspects have been moved back and forth between Mbarara, Isingiro and Bushenyi.
Regarding Kololo grounds, where A4C were slated to hold a rally on Saturday, Mugisha says they have sent an official to the President’s office to seek permission to use the venue. They however concede that should they be blocked from using it, they will relocate to Clock Tower Grounds.
