Leaders of the Opposition People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) have called on residents of Rukungiri District to vote out all National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders in protest over the imprisonment of Dr Kizza Besigye, Sam Mugumya, and other political detainees, whom they described as “sons of the soil.”
Speaking on Thursday at the launch of the PFF grassroots mobilisation campaign in Rukungiri, acting party president and Kampala Lord Mayor Elias Lukwago, together with PFF spokesperson Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, condemned Besigye’s detention as a violation of his rights. They claimed the charges against Besigye and other detainees are politically motivated.
Besigye was arrested on November 16, 2024, in Nairobi, Kenya, together with his aide Obeid Lutale. The two are currently on remand at Luzira Prison on charges of treachery and unlawful possession of firearms.
The prosecution alleges that between February 2023 and November 2024, they held meetings in Geneva, Athens, and Nairobi, where they reportedly sought logistical support and identified military targets in Uganda with the intent to undermine the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).
Opposition activist Sam Mugumya was allegedly abducted on August 26 from a hotel in Nyamitanga, Mbarara City, by plain-clothed armed men. His whereabouts remain unknown.
During his November visit to Rukungiri, President Yoweri Museveni did not comment on the arrests, but urged residents to adopt the four-acre farming model as a path out of poverty.
Lukwago and Ssemujju urged residents to use the upcoming general election to “punish” what they called government excesses by voting out all NRM leaders. They argued that an opposition victory would intensify pressure for the release of Besigye and other detainees. They also accused NRM leaders of presiding over widespread corruption.
Kampala Deputy Lord Mayor Doreen Nyanjura echoed their remarks, saying several other Ugandan activists, Stephen Mugisha, Aggrey Kamukama, Joseph Kamugisha, and Nathan Bright, have spent four years in Ndolo Prison in the Democratic Republic of Congo on charges she said were politically influenced by Uganda.
Nyanjura argued that with public protests no longer possible, voting remains the only viable avenue for citizens to express dissatisfaction. Western Region vice chairperson Nicholas Thadeus Kamara added that Besigye’s arrest and Mugumya’s abduction had angered many residents, making an opposition victory more likely.
Former FDC secretary for mobilisation, Ingrid Turinawe, pledged to lead grassroots efforts aimed at defeating the ruling party in Rukungiri.
However, not all residents support the PFF’s call for a protest vote. Wilson Rwamashure, a voter from Rwakabengo in Southern Division, said that while he is unhappy that Besigye is on remand, using elections as an act of revenge may not work because voters’ choices are often driven by personal interests rather than collective anger.
Retired Reverend Canon Charles Bamutangyire, who recently visited Besigye at Luzira Prison for prayers, expressed displeasure over his detention but said voting against President Museveni solely for that reason may not be justified.
The mobilisation launch was briefly disrupted by a heavy downpour. After the National and Kigezi Anthems were sung, the weather suddenly changed, forcing supporters to shield themselves with plastic chairs as the tents filled up.
As Kamara concluded his remarks, strong winds shook the stage, prompting leaders to flee and seek shelter in their vehicles. The master of ceremonies temporarily paused the event as supporters held onto tents and stage structures to prevent them from collapsing.
The event resumed after the weather calmed. Police and other security agencies did not appear at any point during the launch.
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