Three prominent opposition leaders in Uganda, Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), Dr. Kizza Besigye, and Erias Lukwago, found their homes surrounded by security operatives on Thursday in an effort to prevent their participation in a planned peaceful protest addressing the issue of poor roads across the country.
As of Thursday evening, the residences of the National Unity Platform (NUP) principal, Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi, former FDC president Dr. Kizza Besigye, and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago were still under siege. Security personnel, donned in police and military uniforms, surrounded their homes, blocking access roads with military trucks.
At dawn, police and military forces surrounded the politicians’ homes, restricting their movement. Journalists were the only ones permitted access to Dr. Besigye’s residence in Kasangati, Wakiso District, where his attempts to leave were thwarted by security operatives. Despite his insistence on addressing the dire state of city roads, security officials remained unmoved, even threatening to use force against him.
Similar scenes unfolded at Mr. Kyagulanyi’s residence in Magere, Wakiso District, where he expressed to journalists that placing opposition leaders under house arrest wouldn’t resolve the country’s pressing issues. Kyagulanyi declared the beginning of weekly demonstrations every Thursday, addressing not only road conditions but various pressing issues such as missing people, civilian trials in the General Court Martial, and abductions.
At the Wakaliga residence of Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, his wife was the only one allowed to leave for work following a standoff with security operatives. Lukwago, speaking to the press, urged the public to take action and assert their rights, emphasizing the government’s lack of response to petitions regarding road conditions.
Despite the house arrests, some opposition politicians and members of the public proceeded with demonstrations. In areas like Sir Apollo Kaggwa, Natete junction, and other city suburbs, individuals planted banana stems, yams, and potato vines in pothole-riddled roads. Residents in Nansana even staged fishing activities on water-filled potholes, drawing attention to the deteriorating road conditions.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Mr. Patrick Onyango, stated that surveillance of opposition leaders’ homes would continue until authorities were confident they posed no threat. The deployment aimed to disrupt potential violent activities and prevent any planned actions by the opposition leaders.
