Dangerous time for Ugandan Journalists covering Dr. Besigye’s return

By Valerian Kkonde

PEARL NEWS SERVICE

As the opposition leader finally returns home

 Without any provocation, policemen get sticks to beat Dr. Besigye's supporters waiting for him.  Photo by Valerian Kkonde                                                         

Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president general, Retired Colonel Dr. Kiiza Besigye finally returned home from Nairobi on May 12, 2011. He had gone there for treatment after security agents attacked him on August 28 and sprayed him with chemicals in the eyes and all over the body. They also smashed the windows of his car using a hammer and pistol.

This savage attack left him partially blind, necessitating more advanced treatment from the neighbouring country. Besigye had intended to return on the 11^th of May but, on boarding the

Kenya Air Ways

plane, was told to disembark because “the Ugandan government had warned not to allow the plane to land in Entebe with Besigye on board.”

I positioned myself at Kibuye round about. This spot is along the Kampala- Entebe airport road; another road branches from here to Masaka through Nateete, leading to the South- West and Western part of the country. It is also here that the road to Makindye, a residential area slowly turning into a commercial area, connects.

Through Makindye it is possible to go up to Ggaba and also turn to Nsambya and then connect to the city centre. The plan for Besigye’s return indicated that he would be holding a rally in Nsambya.

We were over 15 journalists stationed here. There was also a Police, Army and plain clothed security operatives’ command and control post. As time went by, interesting events started to unravel. All the roads were filled with jubilating supporters of Dr. Besigye. The supporters kept saying that the Electoral Commission chairman Badru Kiggundu had rigged the elections for the rapper. Museveni sang a song during the election period. Supporters also kept saying that Museveni had bribed them to go to Kololo for his swearing in but they could not go to the den of thieves. We are waiting for the real president of Uganda…Museveni is fake…The president of the people is back… Museveni wanted to assassinate our president but we are bringing him back alive…On Monday we are walking to work…The security operatives were not spared the taunts.  

1.30 pm The police officer who had arrested Besigye during his walk to work campaign comes and gathers police officers under the Warid bill board. He is putting on a black overall with a pistol dangling from his right thigh.

1.37 pm Police moves and blocks people from using the road to Nateete. We start receiving conflicting messages: some people say that Besigye had used a different route. Others say he is using the Entebe road and should stay put.

1.48 pm Police start beating people without any provocation! After 15 minutes people return and start jubilating.

The boda bodas-commercial motor cycles- are all over the place. They carry up to four people, dancing and waving branches as well as flashing the V sign. This is the sign for the FDC. They ride from all sides and make all sorts of antics.

2.00 pm MP Ken Lukyamuzi drives from Entebe side and confirms that this is the route Besigye is using. He is leading a long convoy of supporters.

2.15 pm Jubilating supporters block the road to Nateete. Traffic comes to a stand still. Traffic officer tells the drivers to manouvre their way out. She stands on the sides and watches.

2.27 pm Police tells the people who had come in the middle of the round about to leave. They refuse and sit down. They start to exchange words. They tell the police that they should abandon Museveni and join Besigye who will liberate them from living like pigs.

2.33 Three armoured vehicles drive-by. People shout at them: “Those are our taxes. Use them properly.”

2.36 The convoy for the Buganda queen- Sylvia Nagginda- arrives going towards Entebe. People come closer singing the Buganda anthem- Ekitiibwa kya Buganda- and wish her a safe journey.

2.40 Inspector General of Police (IGP) Major General Kale Kayihura arrives. Gets out his vehicle talks to the officers around and gives them orders. Journalists follow him. There is commotion as some people try to stone him.

2.42 IGP drives off towards Entebe.

2.43 President Museveni’s convoy arrives. People start shouting that he rigged the vote and are waiting for the true president. They also shout that they are tired of him and has out lived his usefulness. The Kenyan president, the Papal Nuncio and the Germany ambassador convoys follow in quick succession.

2.52 Traffic officer complains on phone that the convoys are following each other very closely.

2.55 Police water canon Reg. No. UP 2339starts spraying people standing along the road to Makindye, then Entebe and Nateete! The people scamper to safety. Stones start flying from all sides.

3.06 pm Police start taking positions. Two military jeeps arrive with soldiers covering their noses with handkerchiefs. They block the road to Makindye.

3.11 pm A journalist from Entebe side tells us that he has left Besigye’s convoy at Kajjansi.

3.14 Besigye supporters come with a box of water bottles to distribute to the police officers. They turn down the offer. People shout at them that they are pretending yet they are hungry and thirsty.

3.15 IGP returns. Heard telling officers how to manage the situation.

3.17 Vice President Bukenya’s convoy arrives. People are in the middle of the road jubilating.  Escorts start shooting to disperse the crowds. People give way calling the VP a member of the clique robbing them.

3.18 Police starts beating people, throwing teargas and shooting in the supporters. People retaliate with stones.

3.22 pm More police come in. Tear gas and bullets intensify. Tear gas is thrown in the houses along Nateete road. Gun shots continue ringing out. Many boda bodas are abandoned.

3.31 Minister Henry Oryem arrives, comes out and conveys a very short verbal message to Kayihura and drives away. 

3.34 The two jeeps drive off towards Entebe.

3.37 People begin to return

3.40 A police officer stops an ambulance driving towards the city centre from Entebe side. It reverses towards Shell filling station. Police go inside the station and come out carrying an injured man. He had been shot during the fracas. Police tries to send us away but manage to identify him as Walulya Vincent. He was taken to Mulago hospital.

3.52 Defence minister Crispus Kiyonga drives past towards Entebe.

3.56 Police start beating boda bodas jubilating and flashing the V sign. Three taxis park around the road to Nateete with their passengers. They said that they had been attacked because they were wearing Museveni’s t-shirts.

4.04 The notorious police officer in black overall tries to arrest Channel 4 journalist. The journalist had just entered the car which came to pick them. The police officer said that he heard the journalist say that the IGP had been stoned.

4.07 Gun shots begin ringing out along Makindye road. It was an exchange of fire among the security operatives.

4.10 A white mini-bus comes and parks besides the road to Makindye. Men in suits, wielding pistols jump out and seem to rescue a man from other operatives. They were said to be from the presidential guard brigade.

4.12 The officer in the black overall issues order to arrest anyone seen taking photographs. Police becomes hostile to the journalists.

4.28 A police officer on a Patrol vehicle tells me that Besigye would have long arrived here safe for the security interferences with his convoy.

4.33 Police personnel embark on a pick up truck, cling on one another and drive off towards Entebe

4.52 We get information that Besigye is in Lweza

4.58 IGP arrives from Entebe side and drives towards Makindye

5.08 Numbers of Besigye supporters begin swelling once again and chant his praises

5.24 IGP returns from Makindye side and moves to the command post. Over ten senior police officers join him.

5.26 I move forward to take the picture. IGP grabs my camera. Asks me why I am taking his photo without his permission.

“But this is a public place,” I point out

Gives the camera to an officer he calls an IT specialist and tells him to delete the photos. He fidgets with the camera but fails to operate it. I tell him that I had not taken any photos. He believes me and returns it. I move some seven meters away and start taking notes.

5.28 Kampala metropolitan chief- Grace Turyagumanawe- grabs my note book. Tries to read what I am writing but makes no sense and throws it back at me. “We are tired of you (journalists). Have I ever killed a person?” he asks me seething with anger. A colleague moves closer.

“Have you heard me accuse you of killing one?” I shoot back.

“That is what some of you are writing. Do you know that I can cause trouble for you?” Turyagumanawe thintimidates.

“Better be specific Afande Grace. If someone makes a mistake don’t generalize,” the colleague challenges him. He walks away.

5.32 Grace orders the water canon at ready and to spray journalists with the coloured water. The driver defies the order. We communicate among ourselves and move next to the water canon.

5.39 We receive information that Besigye’s convoy has arrived in Zana. Many jubilating supporters arrive singing, dancing and waving tree branches.

5.50 A military police pick up truck drives from Entebe side, they start shooting towards the supporters. Police at the command post join in and it is total chaos: gun shots intensify, tear gas is lobbed at Besigye supporters, the water canon is in full operation and the police are beating whoever they come across. Journalists take cover.

6.02 A WBS TV journalist, clearly identified, is attacked by police. He is kicked, slapped and pushed about. There is a queer silence as all Besigye supporters have fled. It is only police, the military, plain clothed operatives and journalists around. But everyone is sobbing from tear gas.

6.49 Dr. Besigye’s convoy finally arrives. An armoured vehicle is in the lead and it is followed by over ten security pick ups. Two armoured vehicles close the convoy.

6.58 About ten of us decide to leave for the city centre through Katwe. Between the Clock Tower and the road to Katwe along Queen’s Way it is real hell: Police are battering people like they are beasts. It is the military police trying to restrain them but in vain. They are over fifty. The military police tell us to stop for some time to study the situation as our equipment could easily be lost. After over thirty minutes two police officers escort us through the chaos, past the Clock Tower.

At least ten journalists were injured and many equipment confiscated by the police and the military while covering Dr. Besigye’s return. On the same day president Museveni was swearing-in for another five years. This will make it 30 years in state house!

The day’s events make a statement to the effect that journalists are under attack by government.

In my upbringing and school days, I was always told to refrain from unbecoming acts. If the security agents feel ashamed of having their uncouth acts exposed, the best and wise thing to do is to refrain from such;Battering journalists and confiscating or damaging their equipment is not the solution.