Prosecuting Peace

The US-based Center for Constitutional Rights, (CCR), issued a statement expressing profound concerns about the situation in Uganda: “The fundamental freedoms of assembly, speech, and association, are all guaranteed under the Ugandan Constitution. Further, the government’s violent response to peaceful protests is in violation of established international law. It must stop immediately and this sham trial must be discontinued.”

Protests in Uganda, mainly on the streets of the country’s capital Kampala, broke out this April, when people began demonstrating against rising prices for food and public transportation. Dr. Kizza Besigye organized the peaceful “walks to work” and was arrested five times in the course of only a few weeks. Police forces have also tear-gassed the opposition leader, and shot him in his hand.  His injuries and the growing and menacing violence eventually urged him to seek emergency medical treatment in Kenya. Besigye was not the only target for the state’s unprecedented ferocious reaction to the demonstrations. According to the CCR, over 25 people were killed, thousands injured, and hundreds unlawfully arrested and detained.

Besigye, head of the “Forum for Democratic Change”, and governing Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni are former political allies turned into grim rivals. Besigye has challenged Museweni in the last three elections. While he lost each time at the polls, opposition groups identify the most recent elections in February as fraudulent, further accusing Museweni of misappropriating 300 million dollars and causing the ongoing inflation – the initial reason for the demonstrations.

Another alarming move from Museveni is his declared intention to pass an amendment that would deny bail for up to six months to suspects charged with taking part in recent riots and walk to work protests.

In the meantime, Dr. Besigye’s appearance in court has been postponed until August. 

Image "Ugandan Flag" by ourcommon on Flickr, courtesy of Creative Commons License