FDC to sue police over harassment

Oct 13, 2015

The Forum for Democractic Change (FDC) party will sue the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura and other two senior police officers over harassment.

By Jeff Andrew Lule
                                               
The Forum for Democractic Change (FDC) party will sue the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Gen. Kale Kayihura and other two senior police officers over harassment.


The party spokesperson, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda said they are going to make sure the two officers only identified as Kulayigye and Ogwal are brought to book for their barbaric acts.

"We are taking steps to make sure these officers face the law. We are going to hold Kayihura personally responsible for presiding over these crimes," he said.

On Saturday, police blocked the convoy of FDC's presidential flag bearer Kizza Besigye and other party officials as they headed to Rukungiri district for mobilization. They were arrested and detained briefly at various police stations before release.

However, during arrest the party's secretary for environment was also undressed, which continues to raise debate among the public and human rights activist.

Speaking to journalist at the party's weekly press briefing at the party headquarters in Kampala yesterday, Ssemujju said police used violence and unnecessary force to arrest unarmed civilians which was uncalled for.
 
Ssemujju alleged that on orders of Kulayigye, MP Paul Mwiru (Jinja Municipality East) was kicked and slapped, while the party's secretary for environment, Fatuma Zaina was dragged on the road and purportedly undressed by female and male policemen.
 
He stressed that several youth in Mbarara and Rukungiri were also beaten and detained. "FDC condemns this barbaric behavior from police officers and personnel. We are going to make sure the law takes its course," he said.

However, Ssemujju stressed that they are going ahead with their mobilization program without fear despite police's efforts to block them.

"We shall not be intimidated. We are heading to Busia and Tororo on Friday. It is surprising because we even informed the IGP on our program and he failed to single a clause in the Public Order Management Act and Police Act that bars a political party from carrying out mobilization," he added.
 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});