The United Nations Human Rights Chief in representative has paid a courtesy visit to Inter-Party Corporation offices at Katonga Road.
Dr. Uchenna Emelonye met with women leaders who were earlier blocked from matching to parliament. The group was also pepper sprayed by the police as it protested police brutality.
We earlier captured an exchange between him and the police officers at Katonga Road in which his pleas to have the women released to go and atleast have lunch fell on deaf ears.
The women outlined a number of issues failing their participation in politics calling for the intervention of international body.
The group of about 20 women this morning condemned the excessive force used by the police to arrest them citing an example of Fatuma Naigaga who was reportedly undressed.
Led by Councilor Shifrah Lukwago, they also attacked police for blocking their peaceful walk to parliament.
The police blocked the women on grounds that they had not sought permission and not even alerted the speaker on their planned visit.
Relatedly, the Leader of opposition in Parliament has warned government not to push opposition politicians to the wall. Wafula Oguttu says this may force them to fight back.
Presenting a statement, to Parliament, Wafula Oguttu said the Police and other armed forces should stop hiding behind the Public Order Management Act to brutally block opposition activities.
Wafula says the Forum For Democratic Change (FDC) is a legally recognized party and should operate openly and freely.
He was reacting to last weekend’s police clashes with members of the FDC along the Masaka- Mbarara road.
Several opposition leaders including FDC presidential flag bearer Dr. Kiiza Besigye and Members were arrested and their planned public meeting in Rukungiri district blocked.
Story By Herbert Zziwa
