Uganda’s security forces arrested opposition leader Lina Zedriga and thwarted a planned news briefing by the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Kampala’s Makerere-Kavule area on Monday. The incident highlights growing tensions between the government and opposition groups in the East African nation.
Zedriga, the NUP vice-president, arrived at the party headquarters in a striking red suit but was quickly intercepted by police. After a brief confrontation, she was forcibly pushed into a police van. Similarly, Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake was prevented from accessing the venue when his car was towed away with him still inside.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke justified the security operation, citing intelligence that NUP had called for supporters nationwide to attend the press conference. “If you are going to call all supporters of NUP in a small and crowded plot of land, we certainly have to heighten measures,” Rusoke stated.
The crackdown comes amid heightened security measures in Kampala following plans for a youth anti-corruption march. President Museveni has warned against such demonstrations, while opposition parties argue that fighting corruption is every citizen’s responsibility.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of corruption allegations in Parliament, with three MPs currently on remand for related offenses. The opposition’s attempts to address these issues through public briefings and protests have met with strong resistance from security forces.
As tensions escalate, the balance between security concerns and the opposition’s right to assembly remains a contentious issue in Uganda’s political landscape. The government’s heavy-handed approach to opposition activities continues to draw criticism from human rights organizations and democratic advocates both domestically and internationally.
Source:nilepost.co.ug
