Rukungiri residents make a declaration to make the district yellow free!
The 10th October 2015, has been another very gloomy day for pro democracy activist, we where treated in full circle of what defines the unprofessional ism of the partisan Uganda police, from attempted murder to a cat and mouse chase, humiliations of people of eminence, degrading arrests, torture, bullet wounds, teargas, accident all these these sound like some fictional melodrama but in fact it was a reality today starting from Kampala-Masaka, Mbarara all the way to Rukungiri.
The FDC had a scheduled rally at Rukungiri slated for the 10th and all the laws were complied upon leading to the event, however as the day approached the police had other ideas of mangling the arranged rally, on the evening of 9th October, the DPC(District Police Commander) Rukungiri district went on air in the local FM stations. He made announcements on radio Rukungiri informing people that the FDC (Forum for democratic change) rally scheduled for Sat 10th would not take place and he went further to warn people who turn up will do it at his own risk.
This was the moment of provocation of peoples anger in the last minute, since they had made prior preparations to trek from the villages to attend the rally. On the day of the rally the DPC and RDC (Resident District Commissioner) continued to air radio announcements informing people that the rally will not take place. Our own announcements to invite people were rejected by the management of the radio.
This radio is owned by minister Jim Muhwezi, we have used SMS, phone calls and word of mouth to mobilize and the people of Rukungiri nevertheless trekked to the venue of the rally, news started filtering in of the obstruction of the FDC leaders by the police. The supporters got agitated and vowed not to return home until DR Besigye and others FDC leaders are released and allowed to speak to them. Thousands gathered around FDC offices in Rukungiri, the police heavily deployed in all neighboring villages to scare away others who are footing to town as the crowds piled up and tensions began to rise, as time went on the restless crowds started a stand off which quickly turned into running battles with the police preempting the police to start firing teargas and live bullets against the civilians, others arrested and beaten to pulp.
The police got overwhelmed by the people and after the street protests ,thousands of Rukungiri people invaded the police station and forcefully rescued the 4 youth who had been arrested earlier for planting banana stems in Rukungiri town in the morning. After the rescue from the police, the police commander and his team swung into another round of action with volleys of teargas, beating, bullets but still they got overpowered by the people.
Thereafter the police and RDC prevented the rally to proceed the people of Rukungiri decided to make a declaration/order which all the people accented upon to immediately take into action that all NRM campaigns in Rukungiri to be suspended from today. The declaration further reads “the people of Rukungiri will not allow any NRM rally – be it primaries at lower levels to take place until Kizza Besigye is allowed to hold his rally in Rukungiri”. The people went into action and removed all yellow posters from town, the charged people in their thousands taking different directions and cleared all NRM posters with in a minutes this prompted the police to start another round of teargas, but again the people prevailed as it stands today there is no single NRM poster in Rukungiri.
THE DECLARATION IS UNDER FULL IMPLEMENTATION FROM TODAY. All this happened as result of stopping FDC rally, and tearing of Dr, Kizza Besigye posters by police including arresting those who put up Dr. Kizza Besigyes posters.
Earlier on in the morning the team comprised of FDC leaderships including Chairman Wasswa Birigwa, Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP) Hon Wafula Oguttu, Hons Amuriat Oboi, Geoffrey Ekanya, Jack Sabiiti, Ssemujju Nganda, Paul Mwiru & Kevina Taaka. Team also has Deputy FDC SG, Harold Kaija, FDC Chairman, Wakiso, Mr Caleb Muhanguzi, FDC Sec for Environment, Ms Fatuma Zaina, Shadow MPs Fred Turyamuhweza & Francis Mwijukye, Buganda Youth leader Mulindwa Walid Lubega & other FDC Youth activists set off on the journey bound for Rukungiri. As they where en route information reached the party that, Rukungiri is under a heavy deployment of police. Special announcements were being regularly aired on the FM stations by police and the RDC warning people not to come to town!.All this was an attempt to stop a planed FDC rally scheduled for today afternoon. The rally was intended to mobilize supporters and guide them on how to prepare for the 2016 elections. Importantly identify candidates and provide all relevant information.In response FDC`s Secretary for mobilization and organization Ingrid Turinawe sent counter messages written:
Ladies and gentlemen, FDC is a legally registered party. We are mandated to mobilize, recruit and associate with our members from Monday to Sunday and January to December. We wish to inform the public that this activity aimed at identifying lower level candidates, rolling out party primary elections, recruitment and sale of party cards will go on as earlier planned. The public is here by informed to attend in big numbers. The police of Uganda was officially informed to provide security. Ingrid Turinawe.
Kizza-Besigye Wrn said"It's very clear that the NRM/M7 Police and Electoral Commission are intent on denying the opposition a chance fair chance to compete. This further underlines the fundamental importance of fighting for political reforms. It further shows why we must have a defiant campaign”
In the midst of that black news the police acting like bandits laid up ambush on the convoy! Tyre cutters were thrown suddenly on the road, destroying Hon Ekanya's car and causing multiple car crashes. A vehicle of NTV broadcasting house that was in the convoy was badly damaged. Fortunately, no serious causality. The police officer in charge of this criminal activity is said to be the Regional Police Commander of Masaka SP Ogwal.
Then this was the beginning of the series of horrible events that culminated with arrests of all the team, including the grotesque manhandling of Zaina Fatuma a member of FDC NEC, Secretary for environment and natural resources. She was arrested in a most degrading way she was humiliatingly stripped naked in full view of the TV reporters. The police proceeded to dispense all manners of actions of madness, including putting all sorts of roadblocks and check points to prevent the FDC leadership from reaching Rukungiri in the end paralyzing the Masaka-Mbarara highway for sometime, rows of motorist were stuck on the road watching with amazement the police ludicracy.
After long protracted war of words and defiance of the unlawful police orders, Dr. Besigyes car forcefully impounded and towed, Dr Besigye and the leader of opposition Rt Hon Wafula Oguttu were towed to Kaguta road police station, at the station Dr. Besiege was asked to make a statement in respect to disobeying lawful orders in which he declined, saying he cant respect law breakers in police uniform.while the rest were, arrested these including Hons Ssemujju, Mwiru, Amuriat and Kevina. Others arrested include Ms Fatuma Zaina, Harold Kaija and many FDC Mbarara activists who had come to see us.
It took the intervention of the Danish Ambassador to come to the police station on Kaguta road and this prompted the Police to release of FDC arrested leaders including the youth composed of Brian: Atuhairwe Nicholas, Timbyetaho John, Kakwenza Isingoma, Okot Fred, Matsiko yasin, Mpangi Abdul, Fatuma Zaina.
Latest information is Dr Besigye is in house arrest at his home in Kasangati until nomination day next month
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