Freedom sought for Ugandan opposition veteran who has been imprisoned at home

Allies of veteran Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye paid him a visit on Tuesday to urge that he be released from house arrest, which he was placed under last week after calling for rallies over soaring consumer prices.

Besigye, who has tried to unseat long-ruling President Yoweri Museveni in four elections, has been barred from leaving his house by police since demanding public action against soaring inflation last Thursday.

“It is really unlawful. There is no provision in the legislation that designates Dr. Besigye’s home as a jail facility “said Anna Ebaju Adeke, one of over a dozen opposition MPs who visited him in Kampala on Tuesday.

Besigye claims he has been defrauded in previous elections by vote fraud and has a sizable opposition following.

He criticizes the government of neglecting to assist people and demands that tariffs on critical items be decreased.

Museveni’s administration labels Besigye a troublemaker and blames the rise in prices, particularly for gasoline, cooking oil, and wheat, on the Ukraine conflict.

In a Labor Day address that drew condemnation from many Ugandans, Museveni recommended individuals who couldn’t buy bread to eat cassava, a cheaper and locally cultivated staple.

On Monday, police accused Besigye of organizing “illegal meetings and processions” that may impede traffic and spark looting. The government has made no remark on the matter.

“Police cannot transform someone’s home and farm into a jail,” another politician, Francis Mwijukye, said, threatening to gather supporters to attack the property if the police did not leave.