FDC to Hold Prayer for Besigye in Rukungiri Despite Police Blocks

Rukungiri: As Dr. Kizza Besigye is set to appear before a military court in Kampala on December 2, members of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) in Rukungiri district are planning to hold a prayer for him on Monday at his home in the district.

The announcement was made on December 1, by the FDC party administrator for Rukungiri Caleb Musimenta, during an interview with our reporter at the FDC offices in Rukungiri Municipality. Musimenta revealed that the police had initially advised them not to use their office for the prayer but instead to choose an open space. However, to their surprise, the police later blocked them from using the designated prayer location.

Musimenta emphasized that Ugandans, especially those who have faced injustice under the current government, need to come together to pray for the country and for those suffering political persecution.

Opposition leaders in Rukungiri have condemned the district security heads for repeatedly obstructing their prayers for Dr. Besigye and his political associate, Hajj Obeid Lutale, who were both abducted by Uganda’s security forces on November 16 in Nairobi, where they had gone to attend a book launch by Martha Karua.

The former FDC woman Member of Parliament for Rukungiri district, Betty Muzanira, also spoke out about the unfair treatment opposition members face in the district, accusing security forces of sabotaging their activities. Muzanira explained that while NRM members are allowed to organize their events, opposition members, especially FDC supporters, face hindrances.

This comes after police and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) blocked FDC prayers in Rukungiri last week. On Tuesday, police prevented a prayer gathering at the FDC headquarters, and when the FDC members tried again on Thursday at Besania Prayer Mountain, located under the North Kigezi Diocese, security forces blocked the location as well.

Muzanira has called on security officials to allow people to pray for Dr. Besigye, urging that he be given justice and be transferred from the military court to a civilian court.

The Deputy Resident District Commissioner (DRDC) Wilberforce Ongom Ahimbisibwe last week told our reporter that security was unaware of the gatherings. He added that they deployed forces to ensure safety, suspecting that the event might involve more than prayers since no official communication had been received.