Govt threatens to arrest Besigye over demo plans
By Timothy Nsubuga
8th April 2011:- The government has threatened to “deal firmly” with opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye who this week renewed his call for public demonstrations against what the opposition has called the “sham” 2011 general elections.
In a statement issued earlier today, the Inspector General of Police Maj. General Kale Kayihura warned Besigye against engaging in any protests that might disrupt peace and order within the capital city Kampala and beyond. Kayihura said the planed “street walks” are attempts by the opposition to cause chaos and feed their selfish interests.
“…In the case of Dr. Kizza Besigye’s call for ‘walking’ the streets and roads, the Police have reliable intelligence that, rather than the peaceful ‘walks’ they are portrayed to be, they are, in fact, veiled plans of disrupting normal life within Kampala City, create chaos and make the Capital City, and by extension, the country, ungovernable”, Kayihura said.
Kayihura also accused the opposition of ignoring laws by failing to involve the police in the planning of demonstrations. Since the end of the February elections, all opposition attempts to organise demonstrations have crushed government security operatives; especially the army.
The Police Chief added that “…the police shall not allow selfish and egoistically inclined persons, hiding under the guise of political activism, to disrupt law and order; or cause fear and despondency in the public, and continually threaten the peace. Any person found engaging in such unlawful action will be dealt with, firmly, within the law”, Kayihura warned.
This week, opposition leaders launched a new pressure group called Activists for Change at Fairway Hotel and called on the public to embark on ‘street walks’ to protest against the government’s failure to control the rise in food prices.
The opposition also vowed that the protests will continue “until freedom returns” to Uganda. END. Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.
