UGANDA: Security on red alert

Uganda Peoples Defence Forces in conjunction with police and other Security agencies are patrolling all corners of Kampala, the capital city of Uganda to disperse demonstrators. Passengers and pedestrians are being checked wherever they move to ensure that they don't carry explosives to bomb the city. Much deployment is in markets, slums, bars, Old and New Taxi parks, night clubs, and at the home of people security believes they engage too much in demonstrations. Security suspects that Ugandans angered by the recent presidential, local council and parliamentary elections could use Monday’s mayoral elections to stage anti government demonstration. Many Ugandans allege that the recently concluded polls were marred by voter bribery, arrests of opposition supporters, intimidation, ballot stuffing, and election violence in different parts of the country. Police in Rubaga division, a village in Kampala has deployed heavily to block demonstrations against the 2011 Presidential Elections. The police commander for Kampala Metropolitan area, Grace Turyagumanawe said that a protest would not be allowed in Rubaga promising to deal with whoever will try to participate in it. The commander added that there is heavy deployment of police and army because hooligans could cause unrest during the mayoral polls which is slated for Monday 14th March 2011. Anti- riot police and military police vehicles are busy patrolling all roads and streets of Kampala to quell any possible violence. Presidential election loser, Col. Kiiza Besigye of opposition Forum for Democratic Change has vowed to go ahead with election demonstration plans. He told journalists in Kampala that Inter Party Cooperation will peacefully protest the February 18 poll outcome. The contested presidential election results indicated that President Museveni scored 68% while Besigye got 26% of the total votes cast. Besigye said he is organizing the demonstration with other presidential poll losers, Olara Otunnu of Uganda People’s Congress and Independent candidate, Sam Lubega. Earlier on last week Olara Otunnu and Sam Lubega demonstrated on city streets but police in conjunction with military dispersed them. The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura has insisted that opposition demonstrations are illegal. Source: Omona Emma Claude, AfricaNews reporter in Gulu, Northern Uganda. < Prev   Next >