Kampala, Uganda | URN | The Uganda Police Force have finally withdrawn from the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president Kizza Besigye’s home.
Dr. Besigye was placed under house arrest on Friday after attempting to mobilize Ugandans to protest the high cost of living.
On Wednesday 18, May 2022, the police which had barricaded the road leading to Dr Besigye’s home were withdrawn together with the trucks that had blocked the entrance to and out of the politicians’ residence.
Dr Kizza Besigye’s vehicle that had been impounded on the day of his arrest and parked at Kasangati police station was also returned to his home.
On Tuesday 17, officials from the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), led by Crispin Kugiza Kaheru, visited Dr Besigye to assess his condition following his arrest. According to Kaheru, they discussed the matter with security personnel, who promised to vacate his home on Wednesday 18th.
Despite withdrawing from Dr Besigye’s home, the police have deployed heavily in Kasangati town.
Derick Fredric Namakajo, the legal advisor for the Justice Forum and pressure group People’s Front for Transition, says that they will renew their protests against the high commodity prices. He says that it is their constitutional mandate to hold those in government accountable and demonstrate their desertification.
Dr Besigye on Tuesday 17th said that he met members of his pressure group and they resolved to intensify and widen the campaign.
“The wake-up call should be spread quickly to all parts of the country. It’s not a partisan call but one to all oppressed people affected by failure to thrive crisis,” he noted.
Dr Besigye and his pressure group believe that their drive will awaken the citizens and protest the government’s failure to act on high commodity prices.
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Additionally, Dr Besigye suggested that government should reclaim the funds swindled by corrupt officials so that they can be used to enhance the salaries of civil servants and give relief to schools, among others.
Since the start of the year, prices of essential household commodities have been soaring with many people struggling to make ends meet. Although several people have been calling the government to make some intervention, their calls are falling on deaf ears.
Government officials have attributed the increase in prices to the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the raging war in Ukraine.
