Women plead with Besigye not to walk
Apr 22, 2011
ABOUT 15 women yesterday stopped opposition leader Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye at his gate and pleaded with him to stop his walk-to-work campaign.
By ARTHUR KINTU
ABOUT 15 women yesterday stopped opposition leader Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye at his gate and pleaded with him to stop his walk-to-work campaign.
Besigye was just starting to walk to his work place at 6:30am.
The women told Besigye that because of his campaign, they had lost relatives, some were hospitalised and others imprisoned.
They also said their businesses had come to a halt. The women pledged to meet President Yoweri Museveni and request him to reach a common understanding with Besigye.
Besigye, however, told the women that he was not the one to address their problems to. “I am not the one shooting tear gas and bullets at your relatives or imprisoning them.
It is the Government forces. They are the ones you should be talking to. I’m only exercising my right to walk to work,†he said.
The women persisted and Besigye agreed to drive away in his car. He was followed by Police vehicles, journalists and boda bodas.
When he reached Kalerwe town, Besigye got out of his vehicle and started walking with the crowds, chanting FDC slogans and flashing the party’s symbol. They walked up to Kubiri where they were stopped by anti-riot Police.
The district Police commander of Wandegeya, Gerald Byensi, asked Besigye to get back to his car or use the Police van, which Besigye refused to do.
A scuffle broke out and the Police fired bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds. As they dispersed, the Police drove Besigye away in a Police van.
ABOUT 15 women yesterday stopped opposition leader Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye at his gate and pleaded with him to stop his walk-to-work campaign.
Besigye was just starting to walk to his work place at 6:30am.
The women told Besigye that because of his campaign, they had lost relatives, some were hospitalised and others imprisoned.
They also said their businesses had come to a halt. The women pledged to meet President Yoweri Museveni and request him to reach a common understanding with Besigye.
Besigye, however, told the women that he was not the one to address their problems to. “I am not the one shooting tear gas and bullets at your relatives or imprisoning them.
It is the Government forces. They are the ones you should be talking to. I’m only exercising my right to walk to work,†he said.
The women persisted and Besigye agreed to drive away in his car. He was followed by Police vehicles, journalists and boda bodas.
When he reached Kalerwe town, Besigye got out of his vehicle and started walking with the crowds, chanting FDC slogans and flashing the party’s symbol. They walked up to Kubiri where they were stopped by anti-riot Police.
The district Police commander of Wandegeya, Gerald Byensi, asked Besigye to get back to his car or use the Police van, which Besigye refused to do.
A scuffle broke out and the Police fired bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds. As they dispersed, the Police drove Besigye away in a Police van.