FDC says it wont hand over Besigye video to police

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party on Tuesday said it would not hand over a video recording of the purported swearing in of its presidential aspirant in the 2016 general election Col. Kizza Besigye.

Speaking to New Vision, deputy secretary general Harold Kaija confirmed they had received a letter from Police requesting for the video but that they would not respond to it.

"Police has this morning brought a letter asking our office to provide them with the official video of the swearing in of our president. We can't hand them anything. That would be giving them evidence to pin Besigye and that is betrayal" Kaija said.

On Tuesday, the head of Special Investigation Directorate in Police Mark Odong wrote to FDC in a letter addressed to the party's Secretary General, demanding that it provides the recording in question which was published on FDC's official twitter handle to help them with investigations.

"The video in question was circulated on your official party twitter handle on May 5, 2015. In the said video, Dr. Kizza Besigye is seen taking oath. This is therefore to request you to avail us with an official version of the said video to facilitate investigations" the statement signed by Odong reads in part.

Kizza Besigye along with seven other candidates contested for the presidency.

According to results from the Electoral Commission (EC) President Yoweri Museveni won with 60.62% compared to 34% for his closest competitor Besigye.

FDC rejected the results and demanded an independent audit of the elections.

A video recording then surfaced, showing Besigye being sworn in. He was subsequently arrested and charged with treason and detained.

Security however continued searching the party premises for the recording and evidence to sustain the charge of treason against Besigye who was still detained in Luzira.

On June 12 2016 High Court judge Wilson Masalu Musene granted Besigye bail.