Uganda’s outspoken politician and opposition leader from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Kizza Besigye was released on Wednesday from detention after his arrest last week by the police.
Besigye was arrested together with five other politicians from his party. He and these five other politicians have now been charged with inciting violence.
Dr Besigye and those arrested are alleged to have ordered a mob that pelted police officers with stone in the town of Rukungiri.
The said mob attacked the police officers during a gathering by Besigye’s party supporters to listen to one of their leaders.
The police spokesperson, Namuwoza said Besigye was arrested “in Rukungiri on charges of attempted murder of policemen and holding unlawful assembly.”
The FDC supporters had staged a street protest against the planned amendment to the country’s constitution to remove the presidential age limit.
The expected changes to the constitution which is current taking place in Uganda’s parliament is believed to be attempts by the ruling party to allow President Yoweri Museveni to seek re-election in 2021.
A senior official of the FDC party Mugisha Muntu is reported by the AFP as saying that Besigye and five others had been “freed on non-cash bail of $1 400”.
A police spokesperson Elly Maate said “Besigye and the others are also charged with disobedience of lawful duty by holding an unauthorised rally in Rukungiri on October 18, 2017”.
They are to appear in court on November 18 for hearing of their case to continue.
Source: Africafeeds.com
