Opposition leader Kizza Besigye arrested

By Charles Etukuri

KAMPALA - Police Thursday morning arrested former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Kizza Besigye at his home in Kasangati.

He is understood to be detained at Naggalama Police Station.

The arrest came as Besigye, who was recently nominated to compete against current party president Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, attempted to leave his compound.

According to the opposition leader’s aide, Moses Byamugisha, police deployed at Besigye’s home as early as 5.00am local time Thursday.

Byamugisha said they had written to police and notified them about their intention to launch Besigye’s official nomination rally at Kasangati.

“FDC secretary for defense and security yesterday [Wednesday] wrote to police about Besigye's launch and the police acknowledged receipt. It was surprising to see police blocking Besigye from leaving his home and also deployed heavily at the venue of rallies.

“We were even more shocked when they arrested him,” he said.

Shortly after arresting him, the police drove Besigye towards Naggalama where he was later taken in.

One of FDC's women leaders Ingrid Turinawe was also picked up by police thereafter, and taken to a yet unidentified police station.  Efforts to get a comment from police on both arrests, were futile.

Last week, the opposition politician, who has lost the presidential race three consecutive times to his political nemesis President Yoweri Museveni, was nominated to contest for the position of party's presidential flag bearer in the upcoming polls due early next year.