Police Besiege Homes of Besigye, Other Opposition Politicians Ahead of Bobi Wine Trial

At least four opposition politicians have Thursday had their homes surrounded by Police officers in what appears to be a move by security to nip imminent protests in the bud.

Key opposition leader, Dr Kizza Besigye said his home in Kasangati had been sealed off by security personnel.

“Every way out of my home is barricaded since very early today. The intention is to deny us freedom to move and to be at the Military Court where MP Robert Kyagulanyi is to be produced this morning,” Besigye posted on his Facebook.

He added that: “The struggle for freedom and sovereignty won’t be blocked! Museveni Must Go”.

FDC mobilizer, Ingrid Turinawe also woke up to a deployment by Police at her residence.

“These goons are blocking me from leaving home. They say I sit in a police car without telling me where they are taking me. What are the charges?” Turinawe wrote on Facebook.

She said she could not understand their real motive.

The same siege was placed on the residences of Makindye East MP, Allan Ssewanyana as well as Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago.

Detained MP for Kyadondo East, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine is due to be tried in Gulu district before the military court martial today, Thursday.

Yesterday, Police said they had intelligence information indicating that further chaos and violence might erupt today as Bobi Wine is produced in court.

According to Police Spokesperson, SSP Emilian Kayima, this intelligence indicated that sections of Ugandans especially those in the Boda Boda business are mobilised to attack each other.

“We have intelligence that further riots might occur as some groups of Boda Boda riders in and around Kampala are being mobilised to attack other riders,” Kayima said in a statement.

He made reference to recorded messages on social media that were allegedly mobilizing people to engage in crime, spreading harmful propaganda, hate speech and other forms of crimes.

It is not clear whether the deployment at the residences of Besigye, Turinawe, Lukwago and Ssewanyana had anything to do with the said riots.

On Monday August 20, security agencies arrested more than 45 people who allegedly participated in the protests in the city, which saw property destroyed, normal flow of traffic and business in the city centre disrupted.