In short
The comments from Dr Besigye follow the arrest of several opposition leaders led by FDC party President Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago from the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala. The group was convening at the office for the weekly Free my Vote defiance prayers.
The opposition in Uganda is still gathering evidence against Police Chief Gen Kale Kayihura for legal action before the International Criminal Court. They accuse him of overthrowing the constitution, using illegal means to frustrate lawful activities and crimes against humanity.
Former Forum for Democratic Change presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye told journalists at his home in Kasangati that the top leadership of Uganda Police Force is using the low-rank officers to abuse the rights of opposition party leaders in the country.
The comments from Dr Besigye follow the arrest of several opposition leaders led by FDC party President Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago from the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala. The group was convening at the office for the weekly ‘Free my Vote' defiance prayers.
Besigye whose home in Kasangati has also been surrounded by both uniformed and non-uniformed police officers says he could not go for the weekly prayers because he had a number of visitors at his home.
He however adds that the defiance campaign will continue despite an order issued on Friday by Deputy Chief Justice Stephen Kavuma banning all activities under the defiance campaign. He described Justice Kavuma's actions as a disgrace to the judiciary.
//Cue in: "defiance is about citizens..."
Cue out: ...policemen voted for change."//
On Friday last week Constitutional Court judge Justice Steven Kavuma issued a court order banning all FDC activities under the defiance campaign that is been spearheaded by Kizza Besigye.
The ban followed an application filed by the Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana. In the application, Rukutana said the act of carrying out the defiance campaign by Besigye and FDC with the aim of obtaining control of government of Uganda is inconsistent with articles 1 (1), 1 (3), 1 (4), 2 (1) and 3 (1) of the constitution.
However as police moved to start enforcement of the court order on Monday, it arrested several supporters of the party and their leaders who are currently detained in Katwe, Central Police Station (CPS) and Naggalama Police Station in Mukono district.
But Deputy Police Spokesperson Polly Namaye says the accusation against Kayihura is misplaced adding that police officers deployed at any place react to situations even without the knowledge of the IGP.
She appeals to the opposition to respect such lawful court orders if they don't want police to interfere with their day to day activities.
Former Forum for Democratic Change presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye told journalists at his home in Kasangati that the top leadership of Uganda Police Force is using the low-rank officers to abuse the rights of opposition party leaders in the country.
The comments from Dr Besigye follow the arrest of several opposition leaders led by FDC party President Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago from the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, Kampala. The group was convening at the office for the weekly ‘Free my Vote' defiance prayers.
Besigye whose home in Kasangati has also been surrounded by both uniformed and non-uniformed police officers says he could not go for the weekly prayers because he had a number of visitors at his home.
He however adds that the defiance campaign will continue despite an order issued on Friday by Deputy Chief Justice Stephen Kavuma banning all activities under the defiance campaign. He described Justice Kavuma's actions as a disgrace to the judiciary.
//Cue in: "defiance is about citizens..."
Cue out: ...policemen voted for change."//
On Friday last week Constitutional Court judge Justice Steven Kavuma issued a court order banning all FDC activities under the defiance campaign that is been spearheaded by Kizza Besigye.
The ban followed an application filed by the Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana. In the application, Rukutana said the act of carrying out the defiance campaign by Besigye and FDC with the aim of obtaining control of government of Uganda is inconsistent with articles 1 (1), 1 (3), 1 (4), 2 (1) and 3 (1) of the constitution.
However as police moved to start enforcement of the court order on Monday, it arrested several supporters of the party and their leaders who are currently detained in Katwe, Central Police Station (CPS) and Naggalama Police Station in Mukono district.
But Deputy Police Spokesperson Polly Namaye says the accusation against Kayihura is misplaced adding that police officers deployed at any place react to situations even without the knowledge of the IGP.
She appeals to the opposition to respect such lawful court orders if they don't want police to interfere with their day to day activities.
