Police is on the receiving end after a video making rounds on social media has depicted the ugly scenes on Monday as they arrested opposition and Forum for Democratic Change strongman, Dr.Kizza Besigye at Namboole.
The incident happened at around Banda, along Jinja Road while Besigye headed to Namboole where he was supposed to attend anniversary celebrations by FDC leaders in the morning.
In the video captured from inside the opposition strongman’s vehicle, a police officer is seen using a tear gas gun to smash the windscreen.
A video from inside @kizzabesigye1 ‘s car yesterday as police violently arrested him, his driver and an activist.
— Mujuni Raymond (@qataharraymond) November 5, 2019
The three were charged by police for inciting violence and holding an unlawful assembly. pic.twitter.com/mf4NkMcKEH
Another police officer is seen spraying pepper into Besigye’s face, before the arrest.
The scenes happened as four-time presidential aspirant’s vehicle was sorounded by Police patrols trucks with the deputy Kampala Metropolitan Area commander, Dennis Namuwoza in presence.
Earlier, Police had used a water cannon to try to get Besigye out of his vehicle.
Police defends arrest
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson said Besigye was arrested for defying Police orders.
He noted that when the opposition political party informed police of their intended celebrations, they were advised to shift the venue but noted the party defied the directive.
“Besigye defied police orders and parked his vehicle in the middle of the road, blocking and inconveniencing other road users. The car was towed away and he was taken to Naggalama Police Station. At the moment no charges have been preferred against him but investigators are still gathering evidence,”Onyango said.
Besigye is not new to violent arrests by police because in 2011, his car windscreen was smashed by Gilbert Arinaitwe using a pistol at Mulago roundabout.
Besigye was badly injured and had to be hospitalized in Nairobi Kenya after his eyes were damaged by the pepper-sprayed onto them by police officers.
