JINJA – Police in Jinja spent hours of the day battling supporters of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party former president Dr. Kizza Besigye who were protesting police’s decision to block their planned anniversary.
To break up the crowds, heavily armed police and military officers cordoned off the venue – using tear gas, water cannon and live bullets resulting in running battles.
The melee saw Dr. Besigye whisked away to the infamous Nalufenya where he is being detained.
It is reported that Police who were previously overwhelmed after using teargas and bullets, called in the Army for reinforcement from Ghaddafi barracks to fully subdue the people.
Even the teargas did not stop the demonstrators from protecting Besigye.
By the time of filing this story, an unspecified number of FDC party supporters are in police custody following a scuffle with security forces that lasted about hours from Bugembe to Jinja town before Besigye was arrested.
Besigye had gone to Jinja to celebrate the 15th anniversary since the founding of FDC as part of simultaneous celebrations in various districts of Eastern Uganda.
Police blocked his car with the help of other police patrol trucks later towed his car to Jinja Central Police Station.
As the 2021 electoral year nears, opposition political parties and pressure groups are struggling to lay strategies to confront Museveni. However, police have repeatedly broken their meetings citing failure to comply with the Public Order Management Act.
Recently, Besigye and a number of his supporters launched a campaign dubbed ‘Tubalemese’, saying it will help the opposition to achieve their goals.
