At around 5 pm on Wednesday, the Police raided a house in Magere in Wakiso district in which Opposition FDC Party Officials were holding a meeting. It is said that former Kumi MP AmuriaTodoi who plans to contest for the FDC Presidency was holding a consultative meeting here. The internal FDC campaigns will begin in August and the Party’s Delegates Conference will elect the new Party President in November. NTV found some property in the house vandalized. FDC accused the Police of causing destruction as they arrested the party’s supporters. Former Kyadondo East MP Apollo Kantinti accused the Police Officers who conducted the operation of acting in unprofessional manner. “Common people being treated as if they are terrorists, the manner in which they were arrested was very scary.” Said, Apollo.
Kantinti said the consultative meetings were in accordance with the political parties and organization Act since FDC is a registered political party free to conduct its activities. “But these were consultative meetings it’s a normal thing, it continues when there are elections there are consultative meetings, when there is elections there is bidding, when there is elections there is underground campaigning, this happens and the common denominator is that they were all in our FDC structures.” He also wondered why the Police detained their supporters in a high security Nalufenya Police detention facility meant for terror suspects and other suspects of serious crime. Some of the relatives of the suspects urged the Inspector General of Police General Kale Kayihura to release their people. “Because I have just heard it that my husband has been arrested which is not good. Because he is not a rebel though he supports FDC, it is not a crime.”Said, Relative of the suspects.
Assistant Spokesperson PaulieNamaye confirmed the arrest saying the FDC supporters violated the Public Order Management law. “Found in the Act of holding unlawful assemblies which contravenes the Constitution of Uganda, Article 55 and some sections in the Public Order Management Act as well as the Pin Code Act.”Said the Assistant Spokesperson. She however advised the relatives to visit Nalufenya Police Station. “...the relatives who want to visit their friends even if they don’t know the directions, they can ask and when they come we expect that they will follow the guidelines at the detention center so that they can see their people and also give them legal guidance necessary.” Said the Assistant Spokesperson.
