Forum for Democratic Change leader Rt. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye has been intercepted by the police shortly after he left his home in Kasangati to take part in the Walk-to work protest.
He is currently being held at Kasangati police station amid heavy police and military deployment.
He has been arrested with two other people including his aide Sam Mugumya
Besigye’s arrest comes as members of the opposition continue with their walk to work protests today despite the government’s warning against the same.
The walk to work protests begun last week across Kampala and in some parts of the country.
The peace protests are part of the wider civil defiance campaign spear headed by the Activists For Change pressure group to express dissatisfaction with government over the skyrocketing fuel and commodity prices.
The first phase of the protests saw a number of people including opposition leaders and legislators arrested and charged in different courts of law with engaging in illegal procession.
President Yoweri Museveni has warned that his government will not tolerate such illegal protests, urging the opposition to follow the law by seeking clearance from the police.
However, speaking to KFM, FDC’s Deputy Secretary for International and Regional Affairs Ann Mugisha says they will continue with the processions, asking the police to instead arrest anyone who attempts to disrupt the protests.
Meanwhile the Democratic Party has also vowed to continue with their walk to work campaign this week.
The DP Secretary General Mathias Nsubuga says they have mobilized all their supporters to continue walking to their respective work stations until government takes action on the rising cost of living.
However, the police have warned the opposition leaders intending to take part in today’s walk-to-work campaign that they will not be allowed to leave their homes although Police authorities last evening denied that they have been placed under house arrest.
Yesterday the Police Chief Major General Kale Kayihura ordered Kampala Metropolitan Commander, Grace Turyagumanawe and Paul Kato, the Metropolitan Criminal Investigations Director and others, to block the walk-to-work ring-leaders before they leave their homes today.
