3 political activists arrested , 2 injured as Uganda police disperse ‘Togikwatako’ rally

It was a sad day yesterday as three Uganda renowned political activists known as Mwanje Mohammed, Lutaaya Julius Romeo and Ashburg Kato were arrested by Uganda Police officers and taken to unknown destination as the other two political leaders known as Sarah Kanyike who doubles as the deputy Lord Mayor and Kitamirike Ivan were rushed to Mulago hospital after police used expired teargas and live bullets to disperse a consultative rally on age limit in Kasubi, Rubaga Division, in Kampala.

The said rally was organised by Lubaga North MP, Moses Kasibante, to sensitise the electorate about the need not to amend Article 102 (b) of the Uganda Constitution that bars anyone above 75 years from contesting for Uganda’s presidency .

The amendment is being spear headed by Mr Magyezi, the Igara West
MP, from the ruling National Resistance Movement party , NRM who tabled a controversial bill to amendment the article as away of paving a clear path the current president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to contest again .

The amendment has received a lot of criticism from the opposition and active political activists . Lutaaya who mobilised for the rally was brutalising abused by errant security forces.

The article once amended it paves a way for President Yoweri Museveni’s “extension as president.
Togikwatako, loosely translated as don’t dare touch the Constitution, is the rallying slogan for Ugandans opposed to the amendment of the Constitution to scrap the age limit article.

Immediately after Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago took to the podium, a commotion ensued as police officers blocked the road near the rally venue opposite Kasubi Tombs.
In the ensuing melee, police fired teargas. One person was injured in the face and another identified as Julius R. Lutaaya was injured on the right leg.
Most of the MPs, councillors and other politicians who took off as police officers relentlessly fired live bullets and teargas. The Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Ms Winfred Kiiza and a few MPs endured the teargas.

Her aides shielded to withstand tear gas that engulfed the venue.
, Ms Sarak Kanyike fainted and was rushed to hospital.

The Area DPC told Whisper Eye that the opposition politicians were breaking the law has they didn’t have a clear written instructions from IGP approving their political event in line with the Public Order Management Act.
Whisper Eye efforts to determine those other people arrested was futile despite our efforts to talk to police about there whereabouts .

This was originally published by Whisper Eye on the 17th of October 2017