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Bwette Daniel Gilbert / youthjournalism.org
Protester ready to hurl a rock. He did, after the photo was taken.
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By Bwette Daniel Gilbert
Reporter
Youth Journalism International
KAMPALA, Uganda – The walk to work demonstrations that started two weeks ago turned bloody today following the severe beating and arrest Thursday of opposition leader Dr. Kiiza Besigye.
Besigye, a physician who leads the Forum for Democratic Change, was severely battered Thursday by uniformed and plainclothed security personnel, according to NBS, a Ugandan television network.
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| Bwette Daniel Gilbert / youthjournalism.org Kampala street Friday morning |
Soldiers, police and military intelligence personnel, including Criminal Investigation Department’s Gilbert Arinaitwe, also known as Bwana, used sledgehammers, batons, gun butts and other implements to break in & vandalize Besigye’s car along Wandegeya Road.
Besigye sustained severe injuries during arrest, according to reports, and was later taken to Kasangati court later during the day.
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| Bwette Daniel Gilbert / youthjournalism.org Kampala street Friday morning |
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| Bwette Daniel Gilbert / youthjournalism.org Kampala street Friday morning |
Friday morning, Besigye’s supporters started the day with riots and demonstrations around Kampala. Some started fires in the middle of the streets to try to stop the police from reaching them, and some threw stones at police vehicles or cars with government registrations.
Police were shooting with live bullets and firing tear gas into the air to scare off the protesters.
Demonstrations today rocked all of Uganda, leaving scores of people wounded.
The Daily Monitor, an independent newspaper in Kampala, reported that the army is patrolling the streets in the town of Mukono, where demonstrators fought skirmishes with police Friday morning after authorities tried to arrest opposition politician and Member of Parliament Betty Nambooze.
The rioting, which began by 8 a.m. in Kampala, prevented motorists from entering the capitol city via Entebbe Road, a major route into the city. By then, police were already fighting with angry protesters.
Besigye loyalists started their campaign at his headquarters, the office of the Forum for Democratic Change, but in no time the demonstration was all over Entebbe Road, from Najja Nakumbi street all the way to Abayita Ababiri street.
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| Bwette Daniel Gilbert / youthjournalism.org Kampala street Friday morning |
