



Press Relese: Worrying Trends of Journalists Targeted for Covering Political Campaigns in Uganda (26.02.2016)









The U.S. Embassy calls again on Ugandan authorities to release Dr. Kizza Besigye from house arrest and to permit him to travel freely. We note that Dr. Besigye has been under near continuous police detention since the February 18 election, has not been charged with any crime, and was denied his constitutional right to participate in the February 24 elections.
We further call upon Uganda authorities to cease and desist from any further harassment or intimidation of members of the opposition, such as the reported arrests of FDC party agents. Officials of all parties, including the opposition, must be allowed to provide their leadership with polling data collected during the vote, free from intimidation or threat of detention, in accordance with international norms and the principles of a democratic society.
We are also deeply concerned by the Electoral Commission’s delay in releasing polling data. This, along with Dr. Besigye’s detention and arrest of party agents, has inhibited citizens’ ability to verify vote tallies and potentially challenge the election results in court within the constitutionally mandated ten-day period.
We expect the Ugandan authorities to uphold the rights of all of their citizens, regardless of political affiliation, and allow the opposition to play a legitimate role in the country’s politics. We further expect all parties to refrain from actions or rhetoric that may lead to violence and to resolve their disputes peacefully.

Tonight, I feel like becoming a real “terrorist”! This is the effect of endless acts of impunity on the part of the Uganda Police. When the people assigned the responsibility of maintaining law and order become deliberate and arrogant law breakers, where does one turn to? The day (Thursday 25th Feb 2016) started on a bright side, with a visit by my colleague Maj Gen (rtd) Benon Biraro, who shared a number of ideas on how our country could be put back on rails.
I was also expecting a visit from some Human Rights defenders, including Ms Maria Burnett of the Human Rights Watch. These visitors had come to see me the previous day but were blocked by the police at the barricade they erected on the driveway to our home. In spite of sending my aide to plead with the police (since I couldn’t be allowed to get there myself), they were turned away after waiting for more than 2hrs. They were, instead, asked to come back today at 9am. The Human Rights defenders, who arrived at the police blockade at 8.45am, eventually left about 10am without seeing me. After the usual lengthy “consultations”, that involve talking to the top police commanders, my visitors were told that they won’t be allowed to see me! Shortly after 10am, some visitors, who hadn’t informed me of their visit (a normal occurrence), arrived at the police blockade in a minibus from Kakiri, in our District of Wakiso.
As they inquired from the police whether they could be allowed in to see me, the goons that man the notorious police van UP 4860 sprung into action. They opened the minibus, pulled out two of the occupants and threw them into their van. The driver of the minibus quickly reversed and sped off with the other visitors. At 11am, I made my attempt at leaving home for Najjanankumbi, our party headquarters. As before, I was told that I wasn’t allowed to move out. When I insisted, I was arrested and pushed into the notorious van.
Here, I found two terrified men that were in immense pain. The van had a strong smell of pepper spray that immediately made my sore throat worse and affected my eyes. The two men informed me that they had been badly beaten and pepper-sprayed while in the van. One of the men held in the van, named Jamilu Budde (whom I know) was crying with pain and holding his left arm in a manner that suggested he could have had a broken collar bone.
I pleaded with the “Commander” of the van, one Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Kidandi to let me help Budde with First Aid and get him taken to the clinic, but this was denied. Instead, the two men were roughly thrown off the van and I was carried away alone. After driving through Matugga, Kawempe, Mpererwe, Kisaasi, Northern Bypass, and Naalya, I was deposited in Kira Division police Hqs. This is where I stayed until I was given a bond and “released” at about 9pm.
I made it clear, like before, that if the reason they arrested still existed, then they should keep me in detention. Otherwise, once freed, I should be truly free and not expect the police to detain me at my home. As before, I was told that I’d no choice but to be taken back home. I am now back home and, as before, detained there! I tried as much as I could, unsuccessfully, to demand that they take me to a proper (gazatted) detention place or let me free. My sore throat was worsened by the pepper spray I found in the van. I informed my captors about this and that I would do well to consult my physician. All this fell on deaf ears. I have since found out that Mr Budde and his colleague, who were tortured and left on our home’s driveway earlier, were later briefly held at Kasangati Police Station and later transferred to Kireka Police. Mr Budde hasn’t had any medical attention that I am sure he badly needs.
This is the dilemma of leaving in a country governed by a rogue regime. This is the very reason I wake up early everyday to do something about it. I am confident that, by the Grace of God, we shall overcome.
One Uganda, One People!!

This is reported from Harlod Kajja from FDC that Dr. Kizza Besigye has been returned back to Naggalama Police Station. After hours been at unknown locations after been taken from his home and been away under forces we don’t know; Especially what has happen to Dr. Kizza Besigye while being detained by unknown men in a unknown place, as the FDC Staff or FDC Officials have had no idea today where he has been located.
Ingrid Turinawe reports:
“Dr. Kizza Besigye is being re arrested now just out side his gate. They just drove him back home after kidnapping and arresting him today (morning). He wants to go to clinic- visit his Doctor for treatment. He is not feeling well after full three months of campaign and the subsequent arrests. Police can’t allow him visit clinic“.
“Besigye narrates what happens when he is arrested:“I am arrested roughly even when I cooperate; they grab, shove and push me into the van. They drive the van like they are possessed by demons. The other day, they were driving 140km/hr on a murram road. Inside, we were jumping in the air.” (…)“Once in Naggalama, inmates cheer. Inside, I remove the shoes, belt and enter the cell. There is one toilet which is shared by all inmates.” (…)”Besigye says he is never tortured but says: “Once, they beat me.”(…)”It’s drama. Like what you see in films. When I was in Kira PS, I ate their food once and it was good” (NBS TV, 25.02.2016).

His own words: “Routine: just been dropped by police after a day’s detention at Kira Police Stn. Home barricaded & not allowed out!!” (Dr. Kizza Besigye, 25.02.2015).
Just why this has been edited, when it comes to Dr. Kizza Besigye facts:
(This blog has been edited as information has come through the hours, as the was so much uncertainty, therefore the Naggalama Police Station is gone away as Kizza Besigye reports himself that he as at Kira Police Station today; there was the place he was detained. That is the reason alone to edit the matter and get the right information out about his situation; the other is the reports from FDC Officials as the uncertainty of his situation today; that proves the game that Uganda Police is doing under supervision of Gen. Kale Kayihura and President Museveni).
This here is worrying with all those missing ours and what kind of Security Outfit who has taken custody of him; as it most likely have been since he suddenly appears from nowhere and end at the place he has been detain in the recent days. Seems like a well planned operation from the Police Force under Gen. Kale Kayihura! This is their Modus Operandi, and I am right now waiting for CP Enaga who claims foreign powers offered “Gold” to FDC, while Polly Namaye saying “Securing the welfare of Besigye” or some other white-lie from her and the Police Force, who continues to tornment this Presidential Candidate and the man who is questioning the affairs and governance of the NRM-Regime; as he is going from Prison to house-arrest.
Today the FDC tried to follow the car and lost it after awhile. This here is scary, and should be a warning of the Police State and the levels of disregard for rule of law the are in Uganda. Dr. Kizza Besigye is not Uganda, but he is the epitome of what is wrong. When I say that is it not that Dr. Kizza Besigye is wrong. That is surely wrong. What is wrong is method of oppression, disregard for justice and lawful behavior from the Police before the polls and now after the polls to the man. Not only to Dr. Kizza Besigye but the whole party of FDC is under fire because they question the legitimacy of the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections that Dr. Badru Kiggundu.
That is the mortal sin (Questioning the Legitimacy) in Uganda right now, because the almighty President Museveni has all power and allowed to anything. As he is the law and the justice, and the man who has the vision and understanding of everything. While people like the FDC and the rest of opposition should just scatter. They are rats to him and people who has misunderstood the movement and his leadership. That is why the Police can hunt them down while getting the FDC Officials at gun-point as they have to give over the FDC Agents Declarations Forms from the recent election; so that the NRM Regime can delete and destroy the evidence of the rigging and get them to alter the results to fit to the reality President Museveni lives in; which is the only one that can exesist in Uganda and by the Police State he is in charge of! There is certain that the Police and NRM-Regime is a totalitarian; who does what it can mask it as “Democratic” while using guns and tear-gas at opposition and Public Order Management Act (POMA), but use exceptions for NRM to do same kind of business or operations as the opposition. They don’t need to signal the Police for their actions or follow the POMA; as they are running the country; while the opposition is a nuance that President Museveni only has because he have to. To be able to walk to his donors, smile and laugh; tell about the great progress in the county and get more money he can embezzle while promising giant projects; as the National Development Plan II; for instance is a tool to get foreign donors to loan or gain funds from foreign governments, Multi-National organizations, Bretton-Woods Organizations to supposably direct the money for some sustainable development to the NRM-Regime. While when the project comes and goes, the money will disappear into the hot-air and some Minister will be fired; the same Minister will be brougt back in months time as the money that was embezzled went parts to the Executive and at the same time bought loyalty to President Museveni. Tell me if I am wrong, check the scandals and how many of them where brought back, and how many who has been close to President Museveni? The big question I have, why hasn’t this had major effect on the donor-countries… Who still has continued to give him funds without questioning the behavor or acting up towards him as he issues has come and go during his tenure as the Executive.
I am sure if President Museveni could and still keep getting donor funds; he would abolish Multi-Party Democracy and go back to the Movement System. So that every single person has to automatically be a part of his party and his vision; most important be ruled by him and he controlling them under his will. That is what President Museveni now wishing. He will not say this: because he doesn’t have the arrogance, but if he had the option, the barn-door would be open and the ferried Crime Preventers would be first in line to destroy the Multi-Party Democracy that he never believed in. As it needed to be two elections for the amendment (2000,2005) to get it.
So what we see now is just the notion and motions of President Museveni showing his true color and belief that he has the right to rule without question, because he believes he is the only one who has the right to run the Government of Uganda. That is why Dr. Kizza Besigye get the unjust acts towards him as he questions the powers of the Executive and the grand Chief, Commander-in-Chief and the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni! That is visible reality, not a beautiful picture, but a honest portrait of the signals and actions of his security outfits towards the FDC. I know it is not picturesque and classic view that we wish and hope for. That is because President Museveni will use everybody and anything to keep his posistion; as he has done now from President Nyerere, President Obote and all the other ones he has used to get power and than never leave it. As the most beautiful thing is to have power and be the “Big-Man”. Peace.

The regime’s determination to kill Dr. Besigye grows every day. The humiliation and torture inflicted on to him is reaching a level that will tempt some of us to respond in defence of our leader. He was arrested again this morning and driven away by regime police. All efforts to have his lawyers and family members access him have failed. All police stations in Kampala and nearby have been visited in trace of him but he is not in any of them. His maids at home have camped at Naggalama police station with hope to give him meals but he is not there.


The 75.5% garnered out of the results from 82% of the polling stations so far tallied certainly surpasses my earlier expectations. I may not be wholly in a celebratory mood given the debacle we suffered as a nation during the presidential election, and the fact that my brother, Dr. Besigye is in shackles and chains, but permit me to express my heartfelt gratitude to the entire electorate in Kampala for the unreserved trust and honour bestowed upon me in yesterday’s polls. It’s quite a humbling experience and a historic moment that I will always treasure in my life. I reiterate my total commitment to the social contract we’ve executed in this civic exercise. I will remain steadfast on matters of rule of law, social justice, accountability and all the values you hold dear as humanity. My leadership shall be guided by the Will of the people and the philosophy of a shared vision. Transformation of Kampala into a modern capital city befitting the Pearl of Africa is critical but it must be guided by proper planning, taking into account the values of social justice, equity and sustainability. I once again THANK YOU for the overwhelming support and love manifested through out the entire process. May God bless you all. FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.


This Police statement is to make clarifications, and inform the general public about the circumstances surrounding the continuing regulation, and close monitoring of the movements and activities of Rtd Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye, by the Police, since Monday, 15th February 2016 todate.
This is because there is continued campaign of distorted information, speculations, biased, and unfounded, as well as unfair criticism of Police actions, as well as outright lies regarding the handling of Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye by the Uganda Police.
First of all, we wish to state, at the very beginning that the responsibility for the actions that Police has taken involving Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye during, and after the campaigns lies squarely on his shoulders and that of his unruly and indisciplined supporters. Indeed, contrary to propaganda in the media, in all our actions, Police have acted lawfully, professionally, conducted ourselves with utmost restraint in the face of incredible provocation.
A case in point is the violent assault by two foreign journalists on the DPC, Kasangati, who, in spite of the attacks, kept cool, and a calm demeanor, and by his conduct actually disproved the unacceptable insults they were hurling at him. We are reviewing the video footage of that incident, after which appropriate action will be taken.

Let us begin with the incidents of Monday, 15th February2016, in the City, when, in the morning, at Punjani roundabout, Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye, then a Presidential candidate with a rowdy group of supporters, attempted to force his way, into the City centre, in an illegal procession, moreover on a busy business day with very heavy traffic. Since he had no scheduled programme in the City centre, traffic police redirected him and the crowd to use alternative routes to Makerere University where he had a scheduled campaign rally. He refused the guidance of the officers, and, instead, together with the rowdy crowd, (who we, later, got to learn were the infamous Power 10 (P 10) group), illegally occupied the Punjani junction, and blocked the heavy traffic on Jinja-Kampala road.
The rowdy group pelted police officers, and members of the general public with stones forcing the Police to disperse them, and, after, engaging Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye, in vain, including offering to escort him to Makerere university, the Police escorted him to his home. Later in the day, he returned to the City from Kasangati, gathering rowdy crowds along the way, especially the youth, who must have been the P10 group, occupied Wandegeya traffic lights junction, after failing to force their way into the City centre claiming that they were headed for Nasser road!!
The Police had cleared the passage to Makerere University under the mistaken belief that Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye was headed for a rally. After the Police dispersed the rowdy crowd, allowing traffic to flow, and business life to continue, Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye was escorted back to his home in Kasangati by the Police.

Secondly, so as to prevent further confrontation with Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye, who was scheduled to campaign in Nakawa Division, the Police, on the night of 15th February 2016, met and agreed with the organizers on a detailed programme of his campaign in the Division. However, even then, although, generally, the movements of Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye through Nakawa division, the next day, Tuesday, 16th February 2016, was peaceful and smooth, in the evening hooligans who were part of his convoy attacked NRM supporters, who were returning to their homes from the NRM rally at Kololo, tore their party t-shirts, stole their properties, and stoned vehicles in Kinawata and in the Bugolobi area. Police arrested over 50 thugs.
Thirdly, again, on Thursday, 18th February2016, Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye and a group of his supporters stormed and trespassed on security premises in Naguru, and under the supervision of Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye, a senior Police Officer was assaulted and tortured by mob action. Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye demanded to enter and search the security premises together with the violent people he had gone with. He, falsely, alleged that it was a place where “rigging” was taking place.
Obviously, this was a pretext, as he clearly knew where and how voting, counting, and tallying had taken place or was taking place, transparently, in the open, and in the presence of agents of all candidates under the management and supervision of the Electoral Commission. The false claims by Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye were clearly meant to discredit the electoral process, cause confusion, and incite and enrage the public into violence. After that incident, Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye was escorted by the Police to his house in Kasangati.

Fourthly, on Friday, 19th February 2016, we received information that Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye and other leaders of FDC intended to declare and announce results of the Presidential elections. Obviously, since this was in violation of the Constitution and the law, and would cause confusion, the Police quickly acted and prevented it from happening. It should be noted that, under Section 57 of the Presidential Election Act, it is only the Electoral Commission that has the mandate to declare results.
Section 83 of the Presidential Election Act prohibits interference with any duty under the Act (including declaring results). Indeed, to confirm our information, we found Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye and other leaders at the FDC Headquarters at Najjanankumbi, with journalists, preparing a Press Conference.

Morever, through social media platforms and sms messages, the FDC had made their intentions known publicly. The Police officers I sent attempted to engage with the FDC leadership in vain. They were defiant. Their supporters attempted to block Entebbe highway prompting the Police to intervene and restore public order. Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye and other FDC leaders were then arrested, briefly held, and later released. Rtd Col Kizza Besigye was, then escorted back to his home in Kasangati.

Fifthly, on Saturday, 20th February, 2016, the Electoral Commission pursuant to its constitutional and lawful mandate, declared the results of the Presidential election, and the winner of the elections. Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s agents absented themselves and therefore did not collect their copy of the results. Subsequently, on 21st February, 2016 Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye released two statements and addressed the press at his Kasangati home.
The first statement was to the youths, inciting them and calling on them to “take over their country”. The second statement was an announcement calling all his supporters to accompany him to offices of the Electoral Commission along Jinja road, ostensibly to pick his copy of the results and to “claim their future back”. This procession was to occur on Monday, 22th February 2016. It is now, common knowledge that any procession, like any public meeting, must be carried out in accordance with the Constitution and the law, in particular the Public Order Management Act (POMA).

He had not bothered to notify the Police as required by the law. Moreover, it should be noted that on that day, schools were beginning and parents would be taking children to school, meaning there would be more traffic in the City. The Police released a public statement calling on Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye to respect the law as well as the rights of parents and their school going children, as well as the business community, and not go ahead with his planned unlawful procession that had the potential for violence, given our earlier experiences with rowdy youth accompanying his convoy.
Nevertheless, on 22rd February 2016, Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye attempted to leave his home and lead that procession prompting the Police to hold him under preventive arrest. Again, yesterday, Tuesday, 23rd February 2016, he attempted to go ahead with his plans, but Police stopped him.
Clearly, therefore, the Police actions regarding Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye are justifiable both in law and in fact. We have a duty to protect the people and their property, and ensure there is law and order in this country. Moreover, the Constitution is clear that individual rights and freedoms are not absolute. Article 43 states that in enjoyment of freedoms and rights, no one should prejudice the rights and freedoms of others and public interest, (in this case, public order).

Accordingly, therefore, the regulation, and close monitoring of the movements and actions of Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye is within the constitutional and legal mandate of the Uganda Police, and is a consequence of his utterances and activities that amount to incitement to violence and defiance of the law.
But even then, and contrary to propaganda in the media, we wish to make the following clarifications:

In conclusion, since Rtd Col Kizza Besigye has not retracted his statements of defiance and incitement to violence, Police shall continue to regulate and closely monitor his movements so that he does not pose danger to public peace and national security. Moreover, we have information that his planned procession is not just a procession, but rather beginning of a planned and generalized campaign of violence in the City and select municipalities across the country.
Clearly, this is supported by the public utterances of Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besigye. As much as possible, we shall continue to constructively engage him and other FDC leaders urging them to cooperate with us to ensure that peace, law and order are maintained in our country, and advise them to seek legal redress rather than resorting to violence in addressing whatever grievances they may have.
General Kale Kayihura
Inspector General of Police
24 February, 2016

