Police, FDC supporters clash

Jan 26, 2007

Forum for Democratic Change supporters clashed with the Police in Kampala yesterday after they defied orders not to hold a rally in the city centre. <br>

By Hillary Kiirya & Hillary
Nsambu and Patrick Jaramogi


Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) supporters clashed with the Police in Kampala yesterday after they defied orders not to hold a rally in the city centre.

The Police used teargas on Jinja Road to disperse the crowd, led by FDC President Kizza Besigye, as they marched from Nakivubo Stadium to Besigye’s home in Mbuya.

Some people, who fled in disarray, were reportedly knocked down by cars and taken to hospital but the number of wounded could not be established by press time.

The supporters had initially planned to march to the High Court, where the suspects of the People’s Redemption Army (PRA) were due to appear.

Kampala Police commander Grace Turyagumanawe tried to contain the situation after six FDC supporters were arrested and taken to the Central Police Station. The six tried to cause a stir-up in front of the High Court.

“You have Police permission to hold a rally at Nakivubo Stadium and not at the High Court or within the city. Nobody will be allowed to lead a procession through the city,” shouted Turyagumanawe.

But the excited supporters went wild when Besigye walked out of the court gate and announced: “Nobody can stop us. This is our country and we are walking to Nakivubo!”

Along with Mugisha Muntu, Prof. Ogenga Latigo, Phiona Egunyu and other party executives, the group marched through Kampala Road, Dastur Street and Luwum Street to the stadium, halting all business on the way.

There was heavy Police deployment in downtown Kampala but Turyagumanawe just looked on in disbelief.

At Nakivubo, the Katwe Division Police commander, Amos Gumisiriza, who was commandeering the teargas trucks, also watched speechlessly as the procession passed.

“The judiciary has lost its power to the executive after it failed to secure the release of the 22 PRA suspects,” Besigye told a cheering crowd at the stadium.

“We knew the Government would fail to honour court orders. The critical issue is the desecration of the Constitution. We are here to mourn the death of the judiciary.”

He accused President Yoweri Museveni and his government of the “worst type of treason” and warned that they would be held responsible. “For this case, they will be held responsible, whether today, tomorrow or any other day.”

He appealed to Parliament to help the judiciary force the Government to obey the court orders.

Again defying Police directives, Besigye, followed by his supporters, then marched through the city centre to his home in Mbuya.

The Police blocked them on Jinja Road, in front of the Electoral Commission offices.

In protest, the supporters stoned the teargas truck, damaging the side mirrors and prompting the Police to spray them with teargas.

Even the education minister, Namirembe Bitamazire, was caught up in the melee and had to run back to her office to take cover.

Earlier at the High Court, the lawyers for the 11 PRA rebel suspects walked out, arguing that they could not be party to the abuse of the rule of law in Uganda.

The solicitor General, Lucian Tibaruha, had turned up at the High Court to explain why the State was still holding the suspects after the Constitutional Court ordered their release.

Drama unfolded when the defence lawyers, led by Mpanga, stood up before Tibaruha could even present his case, stating that they would not continue with the case as long as their clients were under detention.

“The State is committing treason by failing to respect the constitution,” Mpanga said.

“The conduct of the State in respect of my clients indicates that there are some people superior to the constitution.”

The lawyers argued that continuing with the case would mean collaborating with what they called an illegal process.

“If we participate in any application or proceedings before this court… we will be joining the state in undermining the administration of justice.”

The suspects, including Col. Kizza Besigye’s brother, Joseph Musasizi Kifefe, were to appear in court to process their bail release as ordered by the Constitutional Court on January 12.

After they walked out, Tibaruha said he was going to argue a review of the court orders and he would respect the outcome.

The state claims that the Constitutional Court is only mandated to interpret the law, not to order the release of suspects.

The Principal Judge, James Ogoola, directed one of the judges to hear the application for review.

He set the date for January 31.

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