Uganda: Arrests, intimidations reported ahead of Museveni’s oath

Uganda’s opposition leaders have protested intimidation and arrests of their supporters ahead of the swearing-in of President Yoweri Museveni-which is scheduled for Wednesday, October 12.

On Monday, NUP candidate Robert Kyagulanyi alleged on a Twitter post that the Ugandan security personnel had been deployed around his home to prevent him from leaving his compound.

He tweeted, ‘‘The situation around my home is still tense. Dozens of soldiers are surrounding my home, checking every vehicle that comes in or goes out. All this to suppress the citizens’ voices as the emperor crowns himself for a 6th term! In this I am confident.’’

Mr Kayangulany’s tweet came just after the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party had revealed that Dr Kizza Besigye’s home had also been marooned by the soldiers but the motive of the officers remained unknown.

The Daily Monitor reported on Monday that Ugandan soldiers had also led arrested 41 perceived opposition supporters. When asked about the decision for the arrest, National army deputy spokesperson, Col Deo Akiiki told the media in Kampala that the decision was hinged on intelligence reports that the suspects were planning to disrupt the event.

“We have heightened our support to civil authority (police and other civil security agencies) as mandated by the law in  a bid to ensure that the country and the inauguration ceremony of the new president is safe and secure for both Ugandans and our guests from all over the world. For that matter, UPDF has put at disposal all its elements to the Uganda police. This is across all the services, land forces, Special Forces and the Air force,” he is quoted by the Ugandan press saying.

Dr Besigye criticised the arrest calling on the invited guests to think twice before ‘taking part in the installation of a junta.’

He said: “The guilty are afraid! I’m now abroad; yet… Foreign “guests” who come to attend such an imposition of a Junta become accomplices to the NRM/M7 Junta crimes. Lenders to such a regime must know that Ugandans aren’t bound by such debts.’’

Aborted meeting

Kaygulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, revealed on Tuesday that leaders from his party were inhumanely dispersed when they tried holding a discussion at the NUP offices.

 “Today while our leaders addressed a press conference at our offices, these military ‘mambas’ came and parked at the gate, disrupting the peaceful event.

This all speaks to one thing: those we fear actually fear us the most. They are trying to intimidate us because they are intimidated,’’ he said in a tweet.

The Ugandan press revealed that atleast 11 heads of states had been invited for the swearing-in that will take place at Kololo Independence Grounds. 

He was declared the winner of the January 14 poll with 5.85 million votes as Kyagulanyi came second with 3.48 million. The latter rejected the result citing rigging by the incumbent.