By Sharon Tibenda

Walk-to-Work: There could be more of this on the way

9^th May 2011: All the major opposition parties in Uganda have called for a fresh wave of protests against the NRM government’s violent, and in some cases, brutal crackdown on peaceful ‘walk-to-work’ protesters, civilians, and opposition leaders.

In a joint statement issued in Kampala on May 7^th by the Forum for Democratic Change [FDC], Uganda People’s Congress [UPC], the Conservative Party [CP], the Democratic Party [DP], the Social Democratic Party [SDP], and Justice Forum, the opposition parties condemned the government’s violence.

“…It is deplorable that Ugandan security agencies have in the past month been committing crimes against Ugandans holding peaceful protests over rising fuel, food prices and the high cost of living as well as insensitive waste of public resources by the regime. We are deeply concerned about the following heart breaking violations”, the opposition said before listing the alleged violations.

Reasons for fresh wave of protests

The key issues for which the opposition has called fresh protests are as follows:  “…The use of live ammunition against unarmed protestors; the indiscriminate use and spray of tear gas into homes, schools and health facilities, subjecting children, patients, pregnant women and babies to health hazards; the beating, inhuman and degrading treatment of citizens; the brutal and violent arrest of citizens and leaders of the opposition; the killing and maiming of innocent Ugandans; the ‘Panda Gari style’ of arresting and persecution of suspected protestors in different parts of the country that has created unnecessary fear in the population; and the wanton waste of public resources to satisfy selfish desires of the members of the regime”.

All these acts, the opposition says, are in breach of the Constitution of Uganda, particularly Article 29(1) (d) which provides for freedom to assemble and demonstrate together with others, peacefully and unarmed as well as other provisions that guarantee freedoms like the freedom against torture.

Opposition rally at Constitutional Square

In one of their resolutions, the opposition parties urged all their supporters to join them for rally at Constitutional Square on Tuesday 10^th May 2011.  “…We are convinced that there can never be a better venue for this important event than the Constitutional Square, which is named after our Constitution under which those inalienable rights are enshrined”, the statement read.

Timeline for national protest activities

The opposition parties also issued a timeline for their new wave of protest activities designed to, as they put it, “…further express our solidarity with the suffering majority; some of whom cannot afford a meal for a day”.

Today Monday 9^th May 2011, the usual ‘walk-to-work’ activities will be conducted in all parts of the country.  On Tuesday 10^th May 2011, there will be a joint opposition rally at the Constitutional Square.  On Wednesday 11^th May, 2011, there will be a joint opposition rally at Clock Tower – Nsambya

Then on Thursday 12^th May 2011, the day President Museveni is expected to be sworn in for another five year term, the opposition has organised and called on Ugandans to join mass country-wide protests and rallies over rising fuel, food prices and cost of living.

Friday 13^th May 2011 has been set for a country-wide ‘Walk-to-Mosques’; Saturday 14^th May 2011 will be a national torture victims’ parade, and Sunday 15^th May 2011 will be for a country-wide ‘Walk-to-Church’ for prayers.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.