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POLICE STATEMENT ON BESIGYE

This Police statement is to make clarifications, and inform the general public about

the circumstances surrounding the continuing regulation, and close monitoring ofthe movements and activities of Rtd Col. Dr. Kiiza Besige, b the Police, since

!onda, "#th $ebruar %&"' todate.

This is because there is continued campaign of distorted information, speculations,

biased, and unfounded, as (ell as unfair criticism of Police actions, as (ell as

outright lies regarding the handling of Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besige b the )ganda

Police.

$irst of all, (e (ish to state, at the ver beginning that the responsibilit for the

actions that Police has taken involving Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besige during, and after

the campaigns lies s*uarel on his shoulders and that of his unrul and indisciplined

supporters. +ndeed, contrar to propaganda in the media, in all our actions, Police

have acted la(full, professionall, conducted ourselves (ith utmost restraint in the

face of incredible provocation.

case in point is the violent assault b t(o foreign -ournalists on the DPC,

Kasangati, (ho, in spite of the attacks, kept cool, and a calm demeanor, and b his

conduct actuall disproved the unacceptable insults the (ere hurling at him. e

are revie(ing the video footage of that incident, after (hich appropriate action (ill

be taken.

/et us begin (ith the incidents of !onda, "#th $ebruar%&"', in the Cit, (hen, in

the morning, at Pun-ani roundabout, Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besige, then a Presidentialcandidate (ith a ro(d group of supporters, attempted to force his (a, into the

Cit centre, in an illegal procession, moreover on a bus business da (ith ver

heav traffic. 0ince he had no scheduled programme in the Cit centre, traffic

police redirected him and the cro(d to use alternative routes to !akerere )niversit

(here he had a scheduled campaign rall. 1e refused the guidance of the officers,

and, instead, together (ith the ro(d cro(d, 2(ho (e, later, got to learn (ere the

infamous Po(er "& 2P "&3 group3, illegall occupied the Pun-ani -unction, and

blocked the heav traffic on 4in-a5Kampala road.

The ro(d group pelted police officers, and members of the general public (ith

stones forcing the Police to disperse them, and, after, engaging Rtd Col Dr KizzaBesige, in vain, including offering to escort him to !akerere universit, the Police

escorted him to his home. /ater in the da, he returned to the Cit from Kasangati,

gathering ro(d cro(ds along the (a, especiall the outh, (ho must have been

the P"& group, occupied andegea traffic lights -unction, after failing to force their

(a into the Cit centre claiming that the (ere headed for 6asser road77

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The Police had cleared the passage to !akerere )niversit under the mistaken

belief that Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besige (as headed for a rall. fter the Police

dispersed the ro(d cro(d, allo(ing traffic to flo(, and business life to continue,

Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besige (as escorted back to his home in Kasangati b the Police.

0econdl, so as to prevent further confrontation (ith Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besige, (ho

(as scheduled to campaign in 6aka(a Division, the Police, on the night of "#th

$ebruar %&"', met and agreed (ith the organizers on a detailed programme of his

campaign in the Division. 1o(ever, even then, although, generall, the movements

of Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besige through 6aka(a division, the ne8t da, Tuesda, "'th

$ebruar %&"', (as peaceful and smooth, in the evening hooligans (ho (ere part

of his convo attacked 6R! supporters, (ho (ere returning to their homes from

the 6R! rall at Kololo, tore their part t5shirts, stole their properties, and stoned

vehicles in Kina(ata and in the Bugolobi area. Police arrested over #& thugs.

Thirdl, again, on Thursda, "9th $ebruar%&"', Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besige and a

group of his supporters stormed and trespassed on securit premises in 6aguru,

and under the supervision of Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besige, a senior Police :fficer (as

assaulted and tortured b mob action. Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besige demanded to enter

and search the securit premises together (ith the violent people he had gone

(ith. 1e, falsel, alleged that it (as a place (here ;rigging< (as taking place.

:bviousl, this (as a prete8t, as he clearl kne( (here and ho( voting, counting,

and talling had taken place or (as taking place, transparentl, in the open, and in

the presence of agents of all candidates under the management and supervision of

the =lectoral Commission. The false claims b Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besige (ere

clearl meant to discredit the electoral process, cause confusion, and incite and

enrage the public into violence. fter that incident, Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besige (as

escorted b the Police to his house in Kasangati.

$ourthl, on $rida, ">th $ebruar %&"', (e received information that Rtd Col Dr.

Kiiza Besige and other leaders of $DC intended to declare and announce results of

the Presidential elections. :bviousl, since this (as in violation of the Constitution

and the la(, and (ould cause confusion, the Police *uickl acted and prevented it

from happening. +t should be noted that, under 0ection #? of the Presidential

=lection ct, it is onl the =lectoral Commission that has the mandate to declare

results.

0ection 9@ of the Presidential =lection ct prohibits interference (ith an dut

under the ct 2including declaring results3. +ndeed, to confirm our information, (efound Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besige and other leaders at the $DC 1ead*uarters at

6a--anankumbi, (ith -ournalists, preparing a Press Conference.

!orever, through social media platforms and sms messages, the $DC had made

their intentions kno(n publicl. The Police officers + sent attempted to engage (ith

the $DC leadership in vain. The (ere defiant. Their supporters attempted to block

=ntebbe high(a prompting the Police to intervene and restore public order. Rtd

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Col Dr. Kiiza Besige and other $DC leaders (ere then arrested, briefl held, and

later released. Rtd Col Kizza Besige (as, then escorted back to his home in

Kasangati.

$ifthl, on 0aturda, %&th $ebruar, %&"', the =lectoral Commission pursuant to its

constitutional and la(ful mandate, declared the results of the Presidential election,

and the (inner of the elections. Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza BesigeAs agents absented

themselves and therefore did not collect their cop of the results. 0ubse*uentl, on

%"st $ebruar, %&"' Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besige released t(o statements and

addressed the press at his Kasangati home.

The first statement (as to the ouths, inciting them and calling on them to ;take

over their countr

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But even then, and contrary to propaganda in the edia, !e !i"h to a#e

the $o%%o!ing c%ari$ication"&

Rtd Col Kizza Besige is not under house arrest. 1e is allo(ed unlimited access

to his la(ers, famil and part officials, among others, and is not in an (ahindered from preparing to legall challenge the results of the Presidential =lections

if he so chooses to do so.

$DC offices have not been closed, and their activities relating to elections are

ongoing. Police has not, as is claimed in the media, confiscated $DC declaration

forms or done anthing to interfere (ith the legitimate activities of $DC.

+n conclusion, since Rtd Col Kizza Besige has not retracted his statements of

defiance and incitement to violence, Police shall continue to regulate and closel

monitor his movements so that he does not pose danger to public peace andnational securit. !oreover, (e have information that his planned procession is not

-ust a procession, but rather beginning of a planned and generalized campaign of

violence in the Cit and select municipalities across the countr.

Clearl, this is supported b the public utterances of Rtd Col Dr. Kiiza Besige. s

much as possible, (e shall continue to constructivel engage him and other $DC

leaders urging them to cooperate (ith us to ensure that peace, la( and order are

maintained in our countr, and advise them to seek legal redress rather than

resorting to violence in addressing (hatever grievances the ma have.

Genera% 'a%e 'ayihura

In"pector Genera% o$ Po%ice

() *e+ruary, (-.