By: Zainab Ali
Police on Wednesday morning blocked the residence of President Museveni’s longest-standing political opponent Dr. Kizza Besigye, to stop him leading a parallel walk against corruption.
Police pick-ups and other vans pitched camp by 6.00 am at the entrance to Besigye’s Kasangati home.
Besigye and the people government had planned to hold a parallel Anti-Corruption Walk from Kasangati to their offices at Katonga Road. The People’s Government led by Dr. Besigye claims the walk by Museveni is to celebrate corruption in the country.
They argue that since President Museveni invited all Ugandans against corruption to take part, they didn’t want to be left out.
The former FDC party president, however, maneuvered his way out of his Kasangati home only to be intercepted at Mpererwe town.
It was a dramatic scene that saw large groups of chaotic youth converging in an attempt to block his arrest, this led to running battles between the two sides.
Security personnel also surrounded Besigye’s Katonga office, restricting it from any access to the public.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga says they refused to permit a parallel walk by Byesigye and the People’s government because they were neither aware nor notified about it.
He implored Besigye and the group to first get police clearance before joining the walk.
Museveni led the country in a walk aimed at raising awareness against corruption, from the Constitutional Square to Kololo airstrip. The walk was organised by State House’s Anti-Corruption Unit .
The Anti-Corruption walk is part of Uganda’s participation in the global recognition of the Anti-corruption week, whose theme is “Promoting Accountability for National Development.”
