The Independent (Kampala)
Haggai Matsiko
19 May 2011
Kampala — Police on May.19 blocked FDC President Kizza Besigye and told him that he was not allowed to leave his home as he was under preventive arrest. Police blocked Besigye from participating in the walk to work campaign a day after he announced that he would walk again to protest the soaring cost of living. Besigye’s movement has been restricted by the security since he returned from Nairobi as they camped around his home.
On May.16 the police blocked and towed a vehicle carrying his wife Winnie Byanyima, thinking that Besigye was in the vehicle.Byanyima’s travel plans were disrupted as she missed a flight that was taking her back to NewYork where she works as a director of gender with the UNDP. Besigye has since managed to leave his home on two occasions unhindered but this morning FDC’s Anne Mugisha, reported that the party leader who first addressed a press meeting at his house at about 8:00 am could not get past his property as police blocked a vehicle driving him to work.
Mugisha said that the party leader was not attempting to walk but was being driven in a vehicle. Asst Superintendent of Police James Rweza who is also the OC Kiira Road police post headed the operation that blocked Besigye. Rweza reportedly told Besigye that police had information that there would be a breach of peace if Besigye left his farm and therefore would not be allowed to leave. When Besigye asked the police officer to explain the information that supported their claim he was not given an explanation. Rweza instead told Besigye that he was under ‘preventive arrest.’
A traffic officer stops a car carrying Dr. Besigye from going to Kampala city.
Besigye’s car was shortly surrounded by police constables who pushed away journalists to remove them from the scene. Besigye’s driver then reversed their vehicle and returned to the farm. The opposition leader’s aide Sam Mugumya had earlier reported that every access road to Kizza Besigye’s farm was sealed off by Police and there were approximately 30 vehicles deployed to ensure KB did not leave the farm.
Kizza Besigye has asked his lawyers to investigate whether the circumstances under which he was detained were lawful and if he could be lawfully restrained from leaving his home through ‘preventive arrest’ which means that he is unable to carry on his usual business.
AllAfrica – All the Time
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Police Tell Opposition Leader he is Under ‘Preventive Arrest’