Three Uganda Young Democrats-UYD are in custody at Kampala Central
Police Station accused of staging an unlawful assembly.
They are Robert Mugambwa, the Acting UYD Secretary General, Labison
Kijambu, the UYD Vice President for Buganda Region and Denis Tumuheirwe, a
member of the group.
The trio was scheduled to address a press
conference on the political situation in the country at UYD offices on London
Chambers when they were arrested and led on foot to Kampala Central Police
Station.
These also had a letter that they were planning to deliver
to the Kampala Metropolitan Police-KMP Commandant demanding an explanation as
to why their offices have been under police surveillance since Sunday.
URN has since seen a copy of the statement signed by Robert Mugambwa, the UYD Secretary General.
“While the nation was celebrating Easter, the Uganda Police was busy surveiling
our office throughout the season and in the wee hours of the night. The
tendency of flashing lights in our office through the windows and trying to
open our office door indicates dishonesty from the side of Uganda Police,”
reads the statement.
Adding that, “We expect the
police to act professional and with decency. We expect the OC to seek
permission to secure entrance to our offices rather than applying night dancing
methods to access I don’t know what from our offices”.
The statement also condemns the illegal
confinement of Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi also known
as Bobi Wine in his home. Kyagulanyi was arrested at Busabala in Makindye
Sabagabo Division during his botched Easter Monday and driven back to his home in
Magere in Wakiso district.
Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan
Police spokesperson has confirmed the arrest of the UYD leaders.
“It
is true. We are going to charge them with unlawful assembly. They are currently
detained at CPS Kampala. We want to appeal to the youths not to be lured into
illegal actives”, Onyango told URN.
Timothy Sambwa, the in Charge of Welfare in UYD
condemned the arrest of their colleagues, saying it’s uncalled for.
//Cue in: “I have been…
Cue out: are being released”.//
Luganda
//Cue in: “Baganda bange Robert…
Cue out: …olunaku lwarero lwona”.//
Police has maintained heavy deployment around the UYD
offices.
Kukunda Judith
Petronilla Nalubega
Freelancer