Police arrests JEEMA President

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Nsangi police are holding Asuman Basalirwa, the president Justice Forum together with four opposition activists.The activists are Muhammad Segirinya, Bernard Kaketo, Senindi Arthudulah and Rutu Musoke.

They were intercepted at midnight at Nsangi, about 18 kilometers along Kampala-Masaka Highway on their way to Kabale, where Basalirwa was scheduled to represent Mubarak Munyagwa, the Kawempe Divisional mayor. The activists were meant to stand surety for Munyagwa who was arrested and arraigned before court in Kabale last week for alleged incitement of violence.

Basalirwa told our reporter this morning on phone from Nsangi police post that no charge had been brought against them. He also says that the police officer who arrested them; to them that he had orders from above to do so. Patrick Lule, the Officer in charge of Nsangi Police Station says that the group was arrested for failing to stop at a check point. He explains that traffic police waved down the vehicle in which the suspects were driving, but their driver declined to stop forcing them to intercept it. He says the driver Emmanuel Lutu Musoke has been charged with failing to honor lawful orders to stop and will appear later today before Nsangi magistrate court.

Mathias Mpuuga, the national coordinator For God and My Country-4GC activists has blasted police for acting with impunity. He says the arrest of Basalirwa and his colleagues is an attempt to intimidate them, but said they are still strong and will overcome all the obstacles. Mpuuga says Erias Lukwago, the Kampala Lord mayor has already arrived in Kabale but expressed his disappointment that there were plans to arrest him despite the fact police has never notified him of any pending charges against him.

He also says there is heavy deployment of anti riot police in Kabale town following the arrival of several opposition officials there to attend court. They include Ingrid Turinawe, the FDC women league chairperson, Roland Mugume Kaginda, the Rukungiri Municipality Member of Parliament, Jack Sabit, the Rukiga county MP and the mayor Rukungiri Municipality Charles Makulu among others. Mubarak Munyagwa, the Kawempe Divisional mayor is expected to apply for this morning when he appears in court.