By Dan Samanya and Vivian Nakalyango,
KAMPALA
Fourteen members of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Katonga faction, including leaders and supporters, were arrested on Monday as they marched to the Kenyan High Commission in Uganda. The group was protesting the unlawful arrest and deportation of 36 FDC members from a hotel in Kisumu, Kenya, about a fortnight ago.
The 36 Ugandans, including three women, were handed over to the Ugandan Police Force for questioning. According to Paul Mugisha, Director of Liaison and Protocol at the External Security Organization (ESO), the suspects’ behavior had aroused suspicion of criminal activity, prompting the Kenyan government to take action.
However, Samuel Makhoha Mugenyi, FDC’s Internal Relations Secretary in Katonga, explained that the group had attended Yoweri Pastoral and Leadership College in Kisumu for leadership training and had all necessary documents for entry into Kenya. He alleged that they were nonetheless arrested and subjected to torture.
The 36 FDC members were last week on Monday arraigned to Nakawa. Court Chief Magistrate, Erias Kakooza and charged with treason and remanded to Luzira Prison until August 13, when they will return to court for a mention of their case.
On August 5, a group of 14 FDC supporters, including MPs, marched to the Kenyan embassy to demand answers regarding the arrest of their members. However, they were intercepted by police and later arraigned before the Buganda Road Court, charged with being a common nuisance. The prosecution alleges that the 14 FDC supporters turned rowdy and blocked walkways while staging an unlawful procession to the embassy.
