Former presidential candidate Dr. Kiiza Besigye has called for immediate release of people who were arrested in Arua chaotic scenes as opposition and government bigwigs held their final rallies to canvas votes for their respect candidates.
The arrested suspects include MP elect for Arua Municipality Kassiano Wadri, Kyadondo East legislator, Robert Kyagulanyi who has appeared before general court martial in Gulu, Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake, Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga, Jinja East MP Paul Mwiru and others who have today been produced by Gulu magistrates court.
Arua Municipality parliamentary seat fell vacant after the gun down of MP Ibrahim Abiriga by hooded gunmen travelling on motor vehicles as he headed to his home in Kawanda in Wakiso district.
Besigye remarked in a press briefing that was held at his offices along Katonga Road that there has been a choreographed presentation of a state of confrontation between opposition groups which he believe is deliberate and has ominous intentions.
“People being detained have been held against a background of state inspired violence, there is absolutely no way that the regime can convince people, they are covering their tracks by planting evidence against our people,” he said
Reacting on charges of treason that were levelled against suspects, Besigye said that those are tramped up charges, “they are the rule in as far as NRM dress its opponents in an attempt to criminalize them,” he added.
Adding “We demand that all those persons being detained be freed unconditionally and immediately, I have been charged with treason twice, I have been charged with rape, with illegal possession of guns. My wife was charged with having a pistol in our home in Luzira. These trumped up charges are the rules in how NRM addresses opponents,”
Besigye said no civilian should be charged or attempted to be tried in a military court martial, ´adding that the main inciter of violence is ‘NRM junta’ and they shouldn’t transfer this onto anyone.
He castigated parliament for their failures to act as a state institution saying the August house in powerless arm of government. “Last time Speaker Rebecca Kadaga lamented to the president saying he should explain who attacked parliament last year, however till today there is no response,”