Besigye jailed in Nakasongola with Mao
By Timothy Nsubuga
21st April 2011
Dr. Kizza Besigye at Nabweru Magistrates Court
Forum for Democratic Change [FDC] Party President Dr Kizza Besigye, who was trying to ‘Walk-to-Work’ in the bi-weekly protests against high fuel and food prices, has been arrested for the third time.
The FDC leader was arrested at “Ku Biri” around Mulago National Referral Hospital and arraigned before the nearby Nabweru Magistrates Court from where he was charged with “unlawful assembly” and remanded in custody until 27th April after presiding Magistrate Justine Atukwasa refused to entertain his application for release on bail saying there were “other pending matters”.
A source within Dr. Besigye’s FDC party who preferred to remain anonymous has told Uganda Correspondent that, “…the party is very worried that the Magistrate’s ambiguous and in fact illegal “other pending matters” justification for refusing to hear Besigye’s bail application may suggest that Museveni’s government is preparing to frame Besigye with the offence of treason. If they do that, then the whole country will be on fire. All Ugandans, young and old, must come and join us on the streets to fight for their freedom now. Tomorrow is too late”, the source said.
President Yoweri Museveni has already declared openly that Besigye’s ‘Walk-to-Work’ protest is treasonous that usually ends up being interpreted by Ugandan authorities to mean a directive to investigate and prosecute whoever the President has unilaterally “convicted” in his mind.
For a few anxious hours, no one knew for sure where the FDC leader had been taken by the government’s shadowy security operatives dressed in civilian attire as well as police and military uniforms. Dr. Besigye’s Personal Assistant Sam Mugumya has in the last few minutes however confirmed that Dr. Besigye was whisked off to Nakasongola District where he is expected to join DP President General Norbert Mao who was transferred from Luzira remand prison under the cover of darkness.
It is believed that the government transferred Mao to Nakasongola to thwart a planned walk to Luzira prison by DP officials and supporters to demand for his unconditional release. The Democratic Party has already declared to the world that their President is a “Prisoner of Conscience”.
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