Besigye Appears at UHRC Tribunal over violation of his rights

Former Presidential candidate  retired Colonel l Dr.  Warren Kiiza Besigye Kifeefe   has  appeared before the Human Rights Commission  to state  his  alleged human rights  violation case . 

Besigye  has informed the  Human Rights  tribunal headed by Mariam Wangadya, the Uganda Human Rights Chairperson.  that shortly after the 2016 General elections  where he contested as an FDC presidential candidate, him and other 3 senior party officials including the then party president Mugisha Muntu , Ingrid Turinawe and Wasswa Birigwa were arrested by police  under the command of   late  AIP Andrew Felix Kaweesi. 

The four were   bundled into a waiting  police van and driven to Nagalama police station where they were jailed .In his testimony, Besigye has stated that nobody informed them the reason for their arrest until 10 Opm in the night  when power was switched -off and they were grabbed and driven  at a break-neck speed back to Kampala.

Besigye was taken  back to his home at Kasangati  where what he terms as a "Halloween" experience started because his  home was surrounded by police who could not allow him to move out of the  house  or let  him see any  visitors .

Besigye who has described himself as a medical doctor , farmer and political activist,  has  said  this arbitrary arrest happened at a crucial time when he and the party were compiling and looking at different DRFs from their agents across the country that contained results differing from those that were being announced by the Electoral Commission at  Namboole .

He told the commission that the arrest  prevented him from filing an election petition something which  up to now he regrets, adding that he is still  stuck with his evidence which would have eventually  overturned the 2016 presidential election results , henceforth  telling the commission that he cannot recognize  Mr.  Yoweri Kaguta Museveni  as a duly elected president of Uganda.

Besigye has told the  commission that the continuous arrest  and charging him with Rape,  Treason and  Inciting violence, is  political persecution because  of his decision to oppose president Museveni , because  he[Besigye]  has never been required by court to defend himself against any of them .

Besigye now seeks compensation from government for the continued alleged violation of his rights, torture, loss of income  , lost opportunities and sealing off FDC party offices .

He adds that he has   much hope in the commission although  an opportunity to be heard has  come after  7 years since he filed his complaint .

Besigye has called former FDC party president Gen Gregory Mugisha Muntu as his witness to collaborate evidence on his arrest and detention at Nagalama police station.

Besigye sued the Attorney General of Uganda, who was represented by  Senior State Attorney Ricard Adrole .

Adrole has cross-examined Besigye regarding the fact that it's only the Independent Electoral Commission which is mandated to announce the final election results .