{UAH} BESIGYE : State Using Foreign Security Agents to Harass Our Supporters

Forum for Democratic Change party has revealed during their Thursday national wide protests the  government  is reported  to have deployed some foreign security forces to harass their supporters during their massive protests.

According to a statement issued by Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye Friday morning, In Mukono , parts of Kampala and Wakiso, there were reports of a presence of soldiers that were speaking languages unknown in Uganda raising worry that foreigners may have been involved in the massive deployments.

"This would not be surprising considering that in the 2016 election, members of the armed forces are known to have voted overwhelmingly for change. That may have put the loyalty of most UPDF and Uganda Police Force officers to the NRM regime are in question" Besigye said in a statement.

Besigye also explained Thursday events where he said that police and the UPDF in the morning heavily deployed at the party headquarters and also blocked off all Media vehicles from accessing Rtd. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye's residence and put many of our party leaders under siege.

He said that their national demonstrations took place mainly in areas including Lira, in Northern Uganda; Mbale, Busia, and Kamuli in Eastern Uganda; Rukungiri, Bushenyi and Mbarara in Western Uganda; Wakiso and Kampala in Central Uganda and that security forces in Rukungiri his home town and in Kampala used live ammunition on demonstrators, several of whom are reported wounded.

Students at Makerere University and Kyambogo University were arrested after
Participating in demonstrations.

He noted that more of the party activists were arrested in Entebbe and in Bushenyi, a Daily Monitor reporter Zadock Amanyisa Wilber Muhwezi, a News link
Reporters were arrested for just doing their normal jobs.
Besigye said that inspite of the heavy media and physical intimidation, Ugandans defiantly came out and demonstrated in many parts of the country.

"Of the many people that were arrested and are being held in various police stations, some were actually not involved in the demonstrations. Our leaders and volunteers are still doing their utmost to gain access to all those arrested and we congratulate the courageous citizens that defiantly demonstrated" He said.

War Jets over Kampala

In a particularly ominous show of military force, Ugandan war fighter jets buzzed the capital, Kampala at very low altitudes several times during the day.

He said Ms Ruth Nankabirwa MP, NRM government chief whip told Parliament that the jets were Being used to maintain peace while Col. Paddy Ankunda, UPDF Spokesperson
Disagreed with her saying that they were flying very low in Kampala, today was part of the army's routine operations.
"Politics is about choices, and in this political crisis, Mr. Museveni's regime has chosen heavy military show of force while we have chosen to stand with many people that have chosen hope over fear" Besigye said.
"Military jets flying at very low altitudes over Kampala only strengthen our resolve to continue demanding for a just and fair political solution that will bring about long lasting peace in Uganda".

Media Ban

"What was rather surprising, but quite in keeping with the panic and desperation of the regime, Gen. Jim Muhwezi, Information Minister who led a demonstration on press freedom earlier in the week and Gen. Kale Kayihura, Inspector of Police doubled down on suppression of civil and political rights?

"The two, together with Mr. Freddrick Ruhindi, Attorney General, Mr. Mwesigwa
Rukutana, Deputy Attorney General and Mr. Godfrey Mutabazi, Director of Uganda Communications Commission issued a decree banning the media from providing any live coverage of events convulsing the country.

Mr. Fred Ruhindi, Attorney General told heads of media houses that Uganda is a
Sovereign country and it is not governed by international treaties such as those that call for freedom of expression and other human rights. Gen. Kale Kayihura also told the press that they have to edit out all defiance messages; otherwise their licenses will be revoked by the regime.

Such disgraceful decrees that further curtail press freedom in Uganda, restrict the rights of citizens to information and their ability to make informed choices, violate our constitutional rights and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should be strongly denied by Uganda media practitioners and International media freedom defenders should take appropriate action.

These decrees follow one earlier in the week preventing people from praying for a just and fair resolution to the country's political crisis.
Rt. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye, Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago like many of our party
Leaders remain under police siege. Rt. Col. Dr. Kizza Besigye had this to say about the national demonstrations:

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Without God, our week would be: Sinday, Mournday, Tearsday,Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday & Shatterday. Remember seven days without God makes one WEAK!!"And if Allah touches you with harm, none can remove it but He, and if He touches you with good, then He is Able to do all things." (6:17)

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