Opposition groups in Uganda have called upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the manner in which government of president Museveni is handling demonstrators, protesting against the skyrocketing fuel and food prices.
By Priscilla Nadunga, The Uganda Eye
For the last one month now, government security agents who include police, military intelligence and the Army have been battling opposition members who took it to the streets to express their dismay at the rising fuel and food prices.
Dr. Besigye the leader of Uganda’s main opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has been arrested on various occasions, detained and released without charging him.
Recently government officials during a press briefing at the government media centre insisted the country had suffered prolonged drought that led to shortage of food and hence the rise in food prices. They also blamed the increasing demand for fuel by large economies of China and India for the rise in fuel prices globally, leading to what they called imported inflation.
In a bid to explain the situation, President Museveni addressed a media conference at Rwakitura his countryside home were he swore, never to have any talks with the opposition and promised to crush them should they go on with their ‘walk to work’ activities.
Museveni called the demonstrations “idiotic” because they can’t bring down prices. He observed that high food prices are good for farmers; which begs the question: is it farmers or urban dwellers demonstrating?
His attempt at the rhetoric that it is not only urban Ugandans who matter was in stark contradiction with his emphasis that Besigye cannot be allowed to demonstrate in Kampala city.
Police, Army on spotlight over brutality
Following President Yoweri Museveni’s promise to crush the opposition, security agencies including police and army have swung into action shooting, and killing some of the demonstrators, while a good number is left with injuries sustained during the encounters.
Despite President Museveni’s warning to crush the opposition, a determined Besigye has also vowed to continue with the “walk to work” demonstration not until government responds to the crisis.
Dr. Besigye’s stand has put him at loggerheads with security agents, who are said to have standing orders from their Commander- in –Chief, also President Museveni to crush any protestor. Recently when Besigye was arrested in a Kampala suburb, the government remanded to a rural prison in Nakasogola district about 120kilometers away from Kampala, the commissioner general of prisons explained that, this was done for fear by government that Besigye’s enthusiastic supporters would raid the main Luzira prison on the outskirts of the Capital Kampala.
By Priscilla Nadunga, The Uganda Eye
For the last one month now, government security agents who include police, military intelligence and the Army have been battling opposition members who took it to the streets to express their dismay at the rising fuel and food prices.
Dr. Besigye the leader of Uganda’s main opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has been arrested on various occasions, detained and released without charging him.
Recently government officials during a press briefing at the government media centre insisted the country had suffered prolonged drought that led to shortage of food and hence the rise in food prices. They also blamed the increasing demand for fuel by large economies of China and India for the rise in fuel prices globally, leading to what they called imported inflation.
In a bid to explain the situation, President Museveni addressed a media conference at Rwakitura his countryside home were he swore, never to have any talks with the opposition and promised to crush them should they go on with their ‘walk to work’ activities.
Museveni called the demonstrations “idiotic” because they can’t bring down prices. He observed that high food prices are good for farmers; which begs the question: is it farmers or urban dwellers demonstrating?
His attempt at the rhetoric that it is not only urban Ugandans who matter was in stark contradiction with his emphasis that Besigye cannot be allowed to demonstrate in Kampala city.
Police, Army on spotlight over brutality
Following President Yoweri Museveni’s promise to crush the opposition, security agencies including police and army have swung into action shooting, and killing some of the demonstrators, while a good number is left with injuries sustained during the encounters.
Despite President Museveni’s warning to crush the opposition, a determined Besigye has also vowed to continue with the “walk to work” demonstration not until government responds to the crisis.
Dr. Besigye’s stand has put him at loggerheads with security agents, who are said to have standing orders from their Commander- in –Chief, also President Museveni to crush any protestor. Recently when Besigye was arrested in a Kampala suburb, the government remanded to a rural prison in Nakasogola district about 120kilometers away from Kampala, the commissioner general of prisons explained that, this was done for fear by government that Besigye’s enthusiastic supporters would raid the main Luzira prison on the outskirts of the Capital Kampala.
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