The leader of People’s Front for Transition (PFT), Dr. Kizza Besigye, has expressed his disappointment to the police for blocking his visitors and Ugandans from accessing his home in Kasangati, Wakiso district.
Besigye has been put under house arrest after he was intercepted by security operatives following his attempt to mobilise Ugandans to rise up against the high cost of living which he said was affecting vulnerable common citizens whom he said belong to the “cassava” republic.
Besigye said eight police patrol vehicles have been stationed at and around his home since Thursday last week including one sedan car which is in front of his gate.
He noted that at the weekend the disappointed colleagues of the (PFT) Red Card Front, who had come to check on him at home, weren’t allowed anywhere near the home, something he said is very unfortunate.
Besigye said the move taken by the force is to stop them from making a wake up and rallying call to Ugandans to demand for changes needed for their survival.
Speaking to the media last week before his arrest, Besigye called upon the government to downsize parliament whose over 500 members have proved to be costly for Ugandans to maintain.
Prices of basic commodities have shot up by more than 50% over the last six months.
Government blames the situation on external factors but some economists have said some local measures can be taken to soothe the situation.
Meanwhile, Security operatives yesterday blocked journalists and some Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party leaders from accessing the residence of Col (Rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye in Kasangati Town Council, Wakiso district.
The FDC team comprising Mr Wafula Oguttu, Mr Wycliffe Bakandonda and Ms Virginia Plan Mugyenyi had taken some foodstuffs to Dr Besigye, who now heads the People’s Front for Transition political pressure group.
The team negotiated with security deployed at the home to be let in in vain then they later left with their foodstuffs that included bunches of matooke and chicken.
Dr Besigye, a four-time presidential contender, has been under house arrest since last Thursday following his attempt to walk to Kampala City in protest against high commodity prices and what he described as succession of power.
The FDC deputy secretary general, Harold Kaija, confirmed that their party members had been denied access to Dr Besigye’s home.
Journalists too were denied access to his residence and by today morning, a police pick-up truck was parked in the middle of the road that leads to Dr Besigye’s home.
When contacted, Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire told our reporter to let him first consult, however, efforts to reach him again were futile as he could neither answer the telephone calls nor respond to WhatsApp messages.
