FDC youth leaders confront Kampala police chief

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Mr Mwijukye (R) MP Matthias Mpuuga (C) and Kawempe Mayor Mubarak Munyagwa at the A4C offices in Kampala after the incident yesterday. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KIGGUNDU

Mr Andrew Kaweesi and other officers were overseeing a march organised by the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) when Mr Francis Mwijukye (western FDC youth leader) and Mr Sam Mugumya (an aide to FDC leader Kizza Besigye) demanded to know why the procession had been allowed.

On several occasions, Activists for Change officials, a pressure group allied with the FDC, have sought permission to lead processions on the same road but their requests have been denied.
Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson Ibin Senkumbi said the two were not arrested and that the JLOS procession was lawful.

“They confronted the commander (Kaweesi) with an intention of causing an upheaval. The commander did not speak to them. Police officers took initiative to move them away to restore peace. The two were defiant. They insulted Afande Kaweesi and later ran off,” Mr Senkumbi said.

Speaking to Daily Monitor yesterday, Mr Mwijukye said they confronted Mr Kaweesi for allowing a procession on Kampala Road yet the police chief Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura has previously said parades on the route are prohibited.

“Kayihura has been saying processions on Kampala road affect other road users. Why was this one allowed? Weren’t lawful road users like me and Mugumya affected?” he asked. Mr Mwijukye said Mr Kaweesi ordered their arrest.

“We were taken to a police pick-up truck. The policemen wanted us to go under the chairs but we refused,” Mwikujye said.
He said a policeman administered pepper spray on them. The effects of the spray spread to the rest of the policemen aboard the pick-up truck, forcing them to flee.

One police officer reportedly fell off the pick-up truck and sustained serious injuries to the head. Mr Mwijukye and Mr Mugumya took advantage of the confusion to escape.

Mr Kaweesi said the two would be investigated for allegedly beating a police officer.

By John Njoroge, Daily Monitor

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