MBy Sam Ogina, Citizen Digital
Published on 11 May 2016
Police arrest Ugandan opposition presidential candidate before rally
Uganda’s main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has sworn in Kiiza Besigye as Head of State. Besigye, who claims to have been rigged out in the February poll, was later arrested by police.
Reports indicate that Besigye beat police surveillance to sneak from his home to downtown Kampala, where a swearing in ceremony was held in an event witnessed by FDC officials and hundreds of supporters.
“I Kiiza Besigye Kifefe, swear in the name of the Almighty God to remain faithful to the Republic of Uganda and that I shall preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Uganda. So help me God,” sweared Besigye.
The ceremony was held ahead of the swearing in of President Museveni on Thursday for his final term in office.
Besigye, who lost to Museveni during the February poll, insists he was rigged out through intimidation of voters, inaccurate vote tallying and ballot stuffing.
“What is happening today is not an ordinary swearing in ceremony. This is because our country is in a unique and unenviable place of not running according to the constitution of the Republic of Uganda,” said Besigye.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is among several Heads of State and dignitaries expected at Museveni’s swearing in ceremony in Kampala. Besigye’s party said he was later arrested for illegally swearing himself in.