Mercy Nalugo
21 March 2006
Kampala — THE FDC has pleaded with the government to stop its functionaries from harassing witnesses who have sworn affidavits supporting Dr Kizza Besigye's petition against President Museveni's re-election.
"Our witnesses particularly the soldiers, are being terrorised and hunted. Those who have sworn affidavits are being harassed yet they are also Ugandans and voters," FDC spokesperson Mr Wafula Oguttu told journalists yesterday at the party's head office in Najjanankumbi, Kampala.
"We have chosen legal ways of fighting our political wars and government should not deny us that chance," Oguttu pleaded. "Let witnesses present their side and let government challenge them."
But the Minister for Internal Affairs Dr Ruhakana Rugunda dismissed the claims yesterday, saying government has no intentions of harassing any witnesses.
"The government cannot persecute anyone but is following the law. If somebody has brushed with the wrong side of the law, the law itself will take its course. The government is committed to the rule of law, order and constitutionalism and respect for human rights. No one will be hunted by the state," he said.
He warned however, that this does not encourage witnesses to tell lies. He said if they do, they will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura said yesterday that FDC wants to play the victim all the time.
"They (FDC) have been harassing the people. No body is harassing their witnesses. Let them give us the names of those people harassing their witnesses and we shall protect them as police. They (FDC) always want to get public sympathy. What they are saying is not true at all," Kayihura said.
Besigye's lawyers have filed about 250 affidavits, including one of a UPDF soldier, Pte Allan Barigye of Army No. RA184580.
Barigye in his affidavit alleges that fellow soldiers of the second division in Mbarara Barracks were coached and ordered to vote for President Museveni in last month's presidential elections. The army has since dismissed the claims, saying Barigye is a deserter.
Besigye wants the Supreme court to nullify the result or order a re-run.
FDC's Secretary for Foreign Affairs Mr Reagan Okumu said government should let witnesses testify without any interference.
Okumu said FDC would win the Supreme Court case, which will order a re-run. He said the party is already preparing people for fresh elections. "But we will respect the court ruling even if it is not in our favour. We shall then embark on national mobilization and creating a strong opposition as our game plan," Okumu said.
Okumu and Wafula claim that the government is framing its members and wants to force some of them into exile.
"They want to kill us. They are planning clashes, staging beautiful girls to seduce us so that we are charged with rape. If you go to any hospital, you have to be extremely careful with the doctors you are dealing with. When you see a trailer coming your way, you better park aside," Okumu said.
FDC also insists that military intelligence (CMI) has set up a bogus rebel group and is luring young FDC supporters into rebellion so as to use them to bring trumped charges against the party leaders.
"They want to use the fake rebel group as a net to capture our people. The general public should disregard their claims. Nobody is involved in rebel activities. We have decided to fight our wars democratically and shall continue doing so," Wafula said.
They also accuse government of trying to plant guns on FDC leaders and tapping their mobile phones. Rugunda refuted the claims yesterday claiming they contain no grain of truth.
"Government does not conduct its affairs like that. It follows the laws of the land. We shall reject this. Let them go to police to follow up their allegations," he said.
Okumu cautioned FDC leaders to be on the look out and be vigilant wherever they go.
"We call upon our people not to just go to any hotel but to trusted places so that their food is not tampered with. Go to reliable doctors and not to any doctor. You should be very careful," Okumu said.
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