Govt protests envoys' visit to Besigye
Apr 26, 2011
THE Government has protested a visit by diplomats to Nakasongola Prison where two opposition leaders are being held.
By Joyce Namutebi and Barbara Among
THE Government has protested a visit by diplomats to Nakasongola Prison where two opposition leaders are being held.
Relatedly, information minister Kabakumba Masiko has said the Government is aware that there are foreign countries that are helping the opposition to disorganise Uganda, prevent the swearing in of President Yoweri Museveni and topple the Government.
Addressing journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala yesterday, she said the diplomats, who went to visit DP president Norbert Mao and FDC leader Dr. Kizza Besigye at Nakasongola Prison, had not been cleared as required by law.
On Friday, three diplomats from Netherlands, Ireland and the European Union visited Besigye and Mao at the facility. It was, however, not clear what they discussed.
“Such visitors must be cleared by the foreign affairs ministry and the department or agency hosting them. As far as the Government is concerned, there was no such clearance, which was irregular. We are, however, addressing this matter at diplomatic level,†Matsiko said.
She said there were special considerations guided by international conventions that apply to members of the diplomatic community if they were to visit a prisoner.
Present at the Media Centre was the Commissioner General of Prisons, Dr. Johnson Byabashaija.
Besigye was remanded by the Nabweru Court to Nakasongola Prison until today when his bail application will be heard at Nakasongola Court.
Mao and six others were transferred to the same facility from Luzira Prison. They will appear in court on May 2. The two party leaders were charged separately for inciting violence and disobeying lawful orders.
The Netherlands ambassador, Jeroen Verheul, however, said the visit was made at the invitation of the Uganda Prisons Authority to see under what conditions Besigye was detained.
However, Byabashaija said he did not authorise the visit.
THE Government has protested a visit by diplomats to Nakasongola Prison where two opposition leaders are being held.
Relatedly, information minister Kabakumba Masiko has said the Government is aware that there are foreign countries that are helping the opposition to disorganise Uganda, prevent the swearing in of President Yoweri Museveni and topple the Government.
Addressing journalists at the Media Centre in Kampala yesterday, she said the diplomats, who went to visit DP president Norbert Mao and FDC leader Dr. Kizza Besigye at Nakasongola Prison, had not been cleared as required by law.
On Friday, three diplomats from Netherlands, Ireland and the European Union visited Besigye and Mao at the facility. It was, however, not clear what they discussed.
“Such visitors must be cleared by the foreign affairs ministry and the department or agency hosting them. As far as the Government is concerned, there was no such clearance, which was irregular. We are, however, addressing this matter at diplomatic level,†Matsiko said.
She said there were special considerations guided by international conventions that apply to members of the diplomatic community if they were to visit a prisoner.
Present at the Media Centre was the Commissioner General of Prisons, Dr. Johnson Byabashaija.
Besigye was remanded by the Nabweru Court to Nakasongola Prison until today when his bail application will be heard at Nakasongola Court.
Mao and six others were transferred to the same facility from Luzira Prison. They will appear in court on May 2. The two party leaders were charged separately for inciting violence and disobeying lawful orders.
The Netherlands ambassador, Jeroen Verheul, however, said the visit was made at the invitation of the Uganda Prisons Authority to see under what conditions Besigye was detained.
However, Byabashaija said he did not authorise the visit.