Police restore calm at Besigye home area

By Alfred Wandera

Police on Thursday afternoon restored calm at Kasangati, Dr Kizza Besigye’s home area after his supporters staged a demonstration following his arrest.

Police for about five hours battled with Besigye’s supporters who engaged the officers in running battles. The demonstrators pelted police with stones and blocked the highway with burning tyres, stones and logs.

FDC’s Ingrid Turinawe, MPs Roland Kaginda and William Nzoghu were arrested from the venue Besigye was set to address a rally in Kasangati.  

Besigye’s arrest followed a heated argument with Kasangati Police operations commander, Fred Ahimbisibwe, who told the three - time Presidential candidate that they had orders not to let him leave his home.

Ahimbisibwe gave Besigye two options: “You either go back to your house or I arrest you.”

Besigye insisted that he had to leave because he had an appointment at the US embassy and was later scheduled to address a rally at Kasangati.

“My home is not a prison. Why do you want me to go back to my house? If you feel like I am a criminal, arrest me and take me to court,” Besigye said.