FDC to defy Museveni on demos
Apr 23, 2007
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has vowed to continue holding demonstrations in the city centre and other urban centres.
By Apollo Mubiru
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has vowed to continue holding demonstrations in the city centre and other urban centres.
“We do not take President Yoweri Museveni’s remarks of banning demonstrations in the city centre seriously. He was simply politicking,†Wafula Oguttu, the spokesperson, said.
“Holding a demonstration is a constitutional right. Where does the President and Kampala LC3 chairperson Godfrey Nyakana want us to demonstrate? Do they want us to go to Mabira Forest and villages where there are no journalists to cover us?â€
Addressing journalists at their party headquaters in Najjanakumbi, a Kampala suburb yesterday, Wafula also revealed plans to form a ‘Kiboko’ squad for self-defence.
This, he said, would be done if the Government did not apologise to the public for using the stick-wielding men who beat up protestors in Kampala last week.
The group of shabbily dressed men beat up demonstrators after the Police barred opposition party leaders from accessing the Central Police Station where two opposition MPs, Betty Anywar and Hussein Kyanjo, and others were detained. The Police later denied having knowledge about the group.
Asked whether forming a counter squad would not cause more violence, Oguttu replied: “We do not want to be violent but we are provoked. We are guided by the words of the President who made it clear that the ‘Kiboko’ squad was set up in self- defence.â€
He added: “If they are setting up a team in self- defence and beating up innocent people, why can’t we set up ours? If they dare face us next time in a demonstration, they should come prepared because we shall also go with sticks.â€
The President, while meeting the Indian community recently at Hotel Africana, said the ‘Kiboko’ group was a response by the community that was tired of endless demonstrations that affect their business in the city centre.
Oguttu, however, stated that any security organ should be set up by an act of Parliament and advised the Uganda Human Rights Commission not to waste resources and time investigating the squad, which he said was unconstitutional.
Oguttu said Museveni’s abuse of the opposition would not divert them from their struggle to liberate the country.
THE Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has vowed to continue holding demonstrations in the city centre and other urban centres.
“We do not take President Yoweri Museveni’s remarks of banning demonstrations in the city centre seriously. He was simply politicking,†Wafula Oguttu, the spokesperson, said.
“Holding a demonstration is a constitutional right. Where does the President and Kampala LC3 chairperson Godfrey Nyakana want us to demonstrate? Do they want us to go to Mabira Forest and villages where there are no journalists to cover us?â€
Addressing journalists at their party headquaters in Najjanakumbi, a Kampala suburb yesterday, Wafula also revealed plans to form a ‘Kiboko’ squad for self-defence.
This, he said, would be done if the Government did not apologise to the public for using the stick-wielding men who beat up protestors in Kampala last week.
The group of shabbily dressed men beat up demonstrators after the Police barred opposition party leaders from accessing the Central Police Station where two opposition MPs, Betty Anywar and Hussein Kyanjo, and others were detained. The Police later denied having knowledge about the group.
Asked whether forming a counter squad would not cause more violence, Oguttu replied: “We do not want to be violent but we are provoked. We are guided by the words of the President who made it clear that the ‘Kiboko’ squad was set up in self- defence.â€
He added: “If they are setting up a team in self- defence and beating up innocent people, why can’t we set up ours? If they dare face us next time in a demonstration, they should come prepared because we shall also go with sticks.â€
The President, while meeting the Indian community recently at Hotel Africana, said the ‘Kiboko’ group was a response by the community that was tired of endless demonstrations that affect their business in the city centre.
Oguttu, however, stated that any security organ should be set up by an act of Parliament and advised the Uganda Human Rights Commission not to waste resources and time investigating the squad, which he said was unconstitutional.
Oguttu said Museveni’s abuse of the opposition would not divert them from their struggle to liberate the country.