Opposition Leaders Arrested in Uganda.

Besigye being lifted to a Police truck-up after his arrest on Monday.

TWO opposition party leaders, Col. Kizza Besigye, Nobert Mao, and over 10 other politicians were yesterday arrested and charged with inciting violence as they tried to hold a alk- to-work?demonstration over rising commodity prices.

Sabiiti, Kansiime, Busingye, Katuntu and Oguttu before the Nakawa court

The politicians, who were arrested from various places trying to alk?into Kampala city, were later in the day charged in Kasangati, City Hall, Nakawa and Mwanga II courts.

Before the arrests, there was a standoff between the Police and the politicians, who insisted on proceeding with their walk. They argued that it was their constitutional right. But the Police said the demonstration was illegal.

Besides Besigye and Mao, others who were charged with disobeying lawful orders, committing traffic offences and inciting violence included MPs Abdu Katuntu, Mathias Nsubuga, Wafula Oguttu, Jack Sabiti as well as opposition activists Kenneth Kakande, Elvis Kintu, Moses Kataabu, William Kamulegeya, Robert Kwesiga, Moses Kasibante and Robert Sendaula.  


Besigye, the FDC president, was intercepted in Kasangati after walking for about two kilometres from his residence. He said he was walking to his party headquarters in Najjanankumbi on Entebbe road, about 20km away.

At one stage, Besigye defiantly sat in the middle of the road, ignoring orders to go to the nearby police station. He was bundled onto a pick-up truck, whisked to the station and later taken court.

Mao, accompanied by several party big wigs, was intercepted in Ntinda. Amidst exchanges with the police, he was made to board a Police patrol vehicle and taken to Kira Road Police Station.

The Police had to fire teargas to disperse opposition supporters who had gathered and were cheering the politicians.

Besigye was charged with inciting violence and disobeying lawful orders before Grade one magistrate James Ereemye at Kasangati Magistrate court in Wakiso district amid tight security. He spent about five hours in detention at Kasangati police station before he was taken to court.

Led by the resident state attorney, Ivan Nkwasibwa, prosecution said Besigye incited violence when he walked from his home in Kasangati on Gayaza road, mobilising supporters to take part in the protest.

He also allegedly refused to obey orders from a police officer when he was asked to leave the place, but chose to sit in the middle of the road, disrupting traffic flow at Lutete village.

Besigye denied the charges and his lawyer, David Mpanga, applied for bail. He was released on a non-cash bail of sh10m.

His four sureties, who included the FDC secretary general, Alice Alaso, Rubaga mayor-elect Joyce Ssebugwawo, FDC executive director Wycliffe Bakandonda and Judith Kabanda were given a non-cash bond of sh5m each.

Besigye will return to court on May 11 when his case comes up for hearing.

The alk to Work?protest was launched by a new pressure group, Activists for Change, last week.

The opposition politicians vowed to walk to their places of work every Monday and Thursday until the Government comes up with a plan to reduce prices of essential commodities and fuel.