KAMPALA – The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has urged President Yoweri Museveni to stop stretching the patience of Ugandans beyond the limit by continuing to block public assemblies.
Police working with the army have blocked FDC upcountry rallies and stopped party leaders from speaking on radio talk shows. They have also blocked Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine from holding music concerts.
Addressing journalists at the FDC headquarters in Najjanankumbi near Kampala on Monday, FDC spokesman Ibrahim Semujju Nganda said the continued blockade of their rallies by security agencies will make Ugandans turn against the ruling party.
“As you are aware, the FDC launched a two months countrywide mobilization drive at the beginning of April. The mobilization includes meeting FDC leaders, the public at rallies and those who are unable to attend rallies through mainly radio talk shows. The people we are meeting in town halls are FDC leaders. All these meetings have been blocked by Resident district commissioners and (RDCs) who are appointed and supervised by Mr. Museveni, police and other security agencies. The RDCs and police have switched off transmitters of radio stations and physically removed FDC president Eng. Patrick Amuriat, people’s president Dr. Kizza Besigye and other FDC leaders from studios,” he said.
Mr. Semujju said the actions are all primitive ways used by Mr. Museveni to block people who do not agree him, warning that should they continue, the people will turn against him like in Sudan and Algeria.
“In Kasese you all saw military vehicles, mambas being brought on streets. The operation in Kasese was headed by Special Forces command (SFC) which is an illegal outfit under our constitution and the UPDF act. This specialized military unit is secretly recruited by Mr. Museveni and he uses it the way he wants,” he said.
“These are very primitive methods of work that Mr. Museveni has employed to shield himself and his party from legitimate competition. Mr. Museveni agents working with police have teargassed innocent citizens buttered and destroyed their properties. As a party we condemn these actions and we want to warn Mr. Museveni once again not to stretch citizens beyond limits which has resulted in imprisonment and trial of former heads of state in Egypt and now in Sudan. When you batter citizens you make reconciliation very difficult,” he added.
The FDC spokesperson insisted that the party will go ahead with their programmes even when police block them.
“Despite these disruptions which we condemn, as a party, we continue with our program, we will be in Buikwe tomorrow Tuesday and in Buyende to condole with citizens who lost dear ones and property in the devastating storm. We will continue with the rest of the program as earlier issued,” he added.
The party also welcomed back Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine from prison.
“His arrest and trial like many others before is an attempt by the regime to intimidate citizens. We salute his resilience. It is possible to overwhelm the dictatorship, let everybody raise up. We must reclaim our country and our rights as citizens,” Mr. Semujju said.
