Police Summons Besigye, 4GC Leaders Over Cleaning Exercise

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Former Forum for Democratic Change leader Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye and other leading opposition figures of the outlawed For God and my Country pressure group (4GC) have been summoned by the Police to explain their involvement in the planned cleaning exercise slated for Saturday.

MPs Muwanga Kivumbi and Mathias Mpuuga, FDC Women League boss Ingrid Turinawe and JEEMA leader Asuman Basalirwa were informed of the summons on Friday according to Deputy Police spokesperson Vincent Ssekate.

The activists who are expected to appear at Special Investigations Unit in Kireka will be grilled by detectives for what police has termed as “managing an unlawful assembly.”

The 4GC activists including Besigye, mid-week announced the resumption of political undertakings in Kampala including a cleaning exercise of the city expected for Saturday.

According to Mathias Mpuuga, the 4GC Coordinator, while addressing the press on Wednesday at the group would be joining Kampala City Mayor Erias Lukwago this weekend to participate in the Clean Kampala exercise.

He called on all Kampala citizens to turn up in big numbers armed with all cleaning gear to carry out the exercise.

Leading opposition figures are expected to address would address city residents at what he termed a “consultative rally”. The venue for this rally Nakivubo Blue Primary School.

According to Police, the said cleaning exercise is an excuse by the activists to gather and cause chaos which he said security will not tolerate instead vowing to arrest those who participate.

Deputy Police Spokesperson Vincent Ssekate said while the onus is on Police to respect and uphold the constitutional rights of individuals and groups to assemble and express their opinions, it will not tolerate actions intended to put others’ lives and property in danger.

4GC replaced Activists For Change, an advocacy group created by mainly opposition figures in the aftermath of the last Presidential elections.

Their actions saw a spate of violent engagements between the activists and Police as the latter tried to block the former from organizing riots in the city which the activists claim were to protest the harsh economic times.

The government has treated this group with suspicion claiming their aim is to overthrow the establishment. Last year, the government outlawed the group.

What waits to be seen however is whether the opposition leaders summoned will honor their summons as they have a history of going against them.