Besigye has Right to Freedom of Movement- Amnesty International

Amnesty International, the human rights watchdog has argued that Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)’s Kizza Besigye should be allowed to move freely without restrictions.

Besigye, a four time presidential candidate has been blocked from leaving his Kasangati home since Monday or detained at Naggalama police station when he attempted to leave.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the organisation said that Uganda’s constitution guarantees freedom to assemble and demonstrate.

“Besigye, like all Ugandans, has the right to freedom of movement, and to freedom of peaceful assembly,” the statement reads.

“In addition to Uganda’s regional and international human rights obligations which are binding, Article 29(1)(d) of Uganda’s Constitution guarantees the freedom to assemble and to demonstrate together with others peacefully and unarmed and to petition. Article 29(2)(a) guarantees Ugandans the right to move freely throughout Uganda.”

The human rights watchdog said Ugandan government is continuing to violate the human rights of leaders of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and undermining the ability of their party to legally challenge the results of presidential elections.

Sarah Jackson, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes said “the FDC has a legal right to challenge the election results and it must be allowed to do so.”

“It is unacceptable for the government to stifle a lawfully-registered party from pursuing the only legal recourse available for it to contest the electoral outcome,” she added.

She noted that “these arbitrary arrests are an affront to Dr Besigye’s right to freedom of movement and a clear sign of the prevailing climate of impunity and disregard for rule of law in Uganda.”