By Hanning Mbabazi
Chaos, teargas and live bullets engulfed residents of Mbale on Saturday September 7 as Uganda Police was forcefully dispersing supporters of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) who had gathered for a rally.
This happened at Namakwekwe ward, Northern Division where former FDC party president Kizza Besigye, the FDC Party president Partick Oboi Amuriat, and other leaders were meant to address their voters.
However, Police said, FDC leaders wanted to hold an illegal rally which was not cleared by the IGP and that it was late for a rally to be conducted beyond 6:00pm.
After a long scuffle with Police, Patrick Amuriat Oboi plus three other FDC supporters were arrested and and taken to Mbale Central Police station.
According to residents and eye witnesses, police started using tear gas and live bullets to disperse the people who had gathered before the arrival of the FDC leaders however, upon arrival things worsened.
The FDC party President told journalists shortly after he was released on bond that they only wanted to greet their supporters and inform them that it was late for them to hold a rally.
Amuriat said that they had gotten clearance from the IGP for them to hold their mobilization meetings and police blocked them out of error.
He said that he would not come back to Mbale to report himself to police on issues of bond and therefore police should look for him wherever he will be.
Before going for the foiled rally, Besigye and Amuriat earlier on addressed the FDC party leaders from Bugisu sub region on how to advance the people’s government ideology.
Besigye asked the local party leaders to remain strong and prepare to take up power because they have weakened President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
