Uganda’s outspoken politician and opposition leader from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Kizza Besigye who was released on Wednesday from detention has been re-arrested by the police.
He was re-arrested hours after his release on bail, according to his party officials.
Besigye was arrested together with five other politicians from his party last week. 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.
But hours after walking free from detention, Besigye was arrested.
A leader of his political party, Harold Kaija, told AFP that “He was released today (Wednesday) but was rearrested thereafter. We don’t know why,”
“His release was a cosmetic one,” Kaija added. “Government is trying to bypass the long stay in detention by Besigye by rearresting him after he was set free by the court.”
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.
The next court hearing is on November 18.
Source: Africafeeds.com
