Besigye aides held over assaulting police officer

By Herbert Ssempogo

ALL opposition politicians arrested in Kampala on Thursday were freed unconditionally apart from six people accused of assaulting a police officer.

Deputy police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba on Thursday referred to the politicians’ arrest as “preventive”. At the time they were picked, they had not committed any crime.

Accordingly, at about 7pm, the were freed from Jinja Road and Kira Road police station where they were detained as the police foiled a rally in Kampala.

Those freed were Forum for Democratic Change boss, Kiiza Besigye, Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago and MPs Ssemujju Nganda, Hussein Kyanjo, Wafula Oguttu and Nabilah Naggayi Ssempala.

Others were: Besigye’s aides Sam Mugumya and Francis Mwijukye, Abdu Kayondo, Jethro Nuwagaba, two unidentified ladies and Kyanjo’s brother only identified as Umar.

Unlike Besigye and the MPs, who left Kira Road and Jinja Road unconditionally, Kayondo, Mwijukye, Nuwagaba, Mugumya and the two ladies were freed on bond.

After charges of allegedly beating up police officers were preferred against them, they were asked to return to the respective police stations yesterday morning.

Kayondo, Mugumya and Mwijukye were to report to Kira Road while the two ladies, Kyanjo’s brother and Nuwagaba were to report to Jinja Road police station.  But New Vision learnt that Kampala Metropolitan police head office at Central Police Station was handling the matter. 

Another man only identified as Kaliisa was being held at Katwe police station over accusations of hurling stones to law enforcers. Among the police officers allegedly assaulted was Kampala South CID boss, Jackson Turinawe.