KAMPALA: Police have foiled another attempt by Dr. Kizza Besigye, the former Forum for Democratic (FDC) President to stage a protest against the high commodity prices.
Besigye told journalists that he had decided to continue with the protests to wake up Ugandans to compel the government to address the high commodity prices since the president, Yoweri Museveni had failed to provide solutions during his Sunday night address. He, however, couldn’t move far since the police had blocked the road to his residence.
For minutes, Besigye remained seated in his car and the police looked on unbothered. This prompted, Besigye to open the roof of his vehicle and inquire why the officers had blocked him. “This is my private property. Kindly remove your vehicle I have some business to carry out in town. If you want to block roads, go and block the government road,” Besigye said as the officers looked on.
After close to an hour, Besigye disembarked from his vehicle insisting that he has a right of movement. He vowed to move on foot. Before he hit the main road, police officers grabbed Besigye and placed him in a van that they had used to block the route to his residence.
Another scene was already playing out in Kisangani town, with police blocking a group of people led by Soroti woman member of parliament, Ann Adeke who were on their way to visit Besigye. Police ordered the group to return to Kampala. Police also tried to beat up journalists who were covering the scene.
The protest comes shortly after President Yoweri K. Museveni addressed the nation regarding the skyrocketing commodity (wheat, soap, and fuel) prices on Sunday night.
Coming to the issue of high commodity prices of petrol, diesel, sugar, salt, bar soap, powder soap, cooking oil, etc., President Museveni during the Presidential address said, “we have to remember the nature of the challenge: Kubandama (collapse) or survive (kuhonoka)”.
To remedy the crisis, therefore, Museveni offered possible solutions;
1. To use frugally these imported items (kukekereza, kwereembareemba) or kubyesonyiwa (get alternatives);
2. To use our own raw materials – such as sunflower oil and castor oil (enshoga-shoga) for soap as we wait for the expanded palm oil production which takes longer – sunflower takes only 4 months; for bread, we can use our banana and cassava flour for bread-making apart…
Evaluating these solutions, however, Former FDC leader Besigye said President Yoweri Museveni failed to provide solutions during his Sunday night address.