By Our Reporter
NATIONAL
The 36 Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) supporters who were arrested in Kisumu-Kenya, deported to Uganda and charged with terrorism today, 29th July, 2024 belong to Rt. Co. Kiiza Besigye Katonga faction.
This was confirmed by Besigye’s lengthy message on X handle where he blames government for staging the arrest of innocent members of their Party who had gone to Kisumu for a week-long leadership workshop.
“During the day of 23rd July, 36 of our (FDC) colleagues travelled to Kisumu for a week-long leadership workshop. They were dully cleared by Uganda immigration & security. A few hours later (during the night), their residences at Ukweri Catholic Pastoral Centre, Kisumu, were violently attacked, doors broken, and all brutally arrested. This was by a combination of Uganda Security officers and Kenyan Military!” Says Besigye.
He claims that they were tortured and several injured during and after arrest before being driven that night back to Uganda- this time, without going thru Kenyan or Ugandan Immigration.
“They were detained in “Safe Houses” of Uganda’s External Security Organisation (ESO) until they were brought to Kololo grounds to be paraded before media as having been handed over by Kenyan government for engaging in suspicious circumstances!” He adds.
Besigye insists that the group was lawfully invited into Kenya and entered Kenya lawfully adding that the place where they were to hold their workshop was lawfully engaged.
Meanwhile, the group was this morning produced before the Nakawa Chirf Magistrates Court and a charge of Terrorism was read for the 36 FDC activists.
Prosecution alleges that on the 22nd and 23rd of July 2024, the 36 travelled to Kisumu, Kenya “to receive terrorism training”.
They have been remanded till August 13th.
At the same time Police gave a statement regarding the arrests.
Full statement below
A group of thirty-six (36) Ugandans, including three (03) females, is currently in our custody after being arrested in Kisumu, Kenya, and subsequently handed over to Ugandan authorities on the night of July 24, 2024.
They were engaged in covert activities that are suspected to be subversive, drawing the attention of Kenyan security forces.
We are collaborating closely with our Kenyan counterparts to thoroughly investigate this matter.
An inquiry is ongoing and once concluded, the DPP will guide on the matter and the suspects will be presented in court, at which point we will provide further details.
In the meantime, we discourage the practice of some political actors who are organizing and facilitating individuals/groups of their supporters to travel discretely and operate in outside countries without their authorization.
ACP RUSOKE KITUUMA
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
UPF
July 29, 2024
