Opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has tasked the police to explain the disappearance of some party leaders. Addressing journalists at the FDC party headquarters in Najjanankumbi, FDC Secretary General Nathan Nandala Mafabi asked Police to arrest him or the party president Mugisha Muntu and not the party staff who work on directives from the two if police has any issues with the party.
“We demand the police to release those people and if they want anybody to arrest, I am here – the secretary general to be arrested – because all people here work under the directives of the secretary general,” he said.
Some of the leaders singled out by FDC party spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda as missing include FDC vice chairperson for Youth Zeridah Kakayi and FDC deputy secretary general for Administration Harold Kaija.
Also confirmed missing is Mr Boniface Okori, a guard at the FDC headquarters.
Kidnapped
Ms Kakayi, according to an eye witness, was on May 11 kidnapped by unknown assailants who bundled her into a waiting vehicle outside Christ the King Parish Church in the heart of Kampala city. She had gone to attend prayers but when she crossed the road to buy air time, she did not make it back. She has not been seen since.
On the other hand, Mr Kaija was arrested on May 9 at the FDC headquarters in Najjanakumbi by policemen commanded by Kampala Metropolitan South regional police commander (RPC) Andrew Kagwa. He was taken in a Police van. “They have continued to arrest our people clandestinely, we can’t locate many of them but we are still trying to establish where they are detained,” Mr Mafabi said
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga yesterday told journalists that the Force were not holding any FDC members but “thugs”.
He said they arrested 80 at the swearing-in ceremony at Kololo, 50 on Jinja Road and others from a show at Uganda Manufacturing Association.
On May 9, Mr Enanga said Police was not holding FDC secretary for mobilisation Ingrid Turinawe only to be contradicted later that day by his boss Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura who confirmed the force was holding her for involvement in a “number of crimes”. She was later released.
The Daily Monitor
UM– USEKE.RW
