On this day in 2011, opposition leader Kizza Besigye was violently arrested and pepper sprayed during the “Walk to Work” protests, in one of the most shocking scenes in Uganda’s recent political history.
The protests had been organised in response to rising fuel and food prices, with demonstrators accusing the government of failing to address the cost of living crisis.
The incident occurred near Mulago Roundabout in Kampala as Besigye travelled in his Toyota Land Cruiser.
Security forces blocked the vehicle, leading to a prolonged standoff after Besigye reportedly refused to leave the car.
During the confrontation, then Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police Gilbert Arinaitwe Bwana smashed the vehicle’s windows using a hammer and the butt of his pistol.
Once the window was broken, Arinaitwe sprayed large amounts of pepper spray and teargas directly into Besigye’s face and eyes at close range.
Besigye, visibly blinded and struggling to breathe, was then forcibly dragged from the vehicle and bundled into the back of a police pickup truck.
The assault caused severe injuries and reportedly left him in a brief coma. He was later flown to Nairobi for specialised treatment after suffering serious chemical damage to his eyes.
Images and video footage of the incident quickly spread internationally, drawing condemnation from human rights groups and foreign observers.
Rather than calming tensions, the violent arrest intensified the “Walk to Work” protests and increased scrutiny on the government’s handling of dissent.
The episode became one of the defining images of political repression in Uganda during the 2011 post-election period.
Despite becoming widely known because of the incident, Arinaitwe’s career reportedly stalled for years within the police force.
In a later interview, he defended his actions, saying: “Duty is duty… when you are in an operation, it is an operation.”
