Ugandans in the Diaspora Condemn Police Brutality

Ugandans in the diaspora have condemned the police for using excessive force in quelling protests against the rising fuel and commodity prices. In a statement issued yesterday, the Ugandans subscribing to various political parties said deploying State machinery to crush opposition protestors was a short term remedy to an escalating situation.

"We condemn the brutal attack on FDC leader Kizza Besigye, the imprisonment of DP leader Norbert Mao, and the constant harassment, killing and maiming of their supporters by the police and UPDF," the statement read in part .

"Instead of tackling the root cause of the problem, government is only fighting the symptoms, perhaps knowing very well that the root cause is of its own making and is now beyond reversal," it adds
Both Dr Besigye and Mr Mao have been in prison for participating in the walk-to-work protests which have so far left 10 people dead and scores of other injured.

The protests kicked off on April 11. The demonstration is part of a wider civil defiance campaign by Activists for Change, aimed at championing reforms in the country.

The diaspora said the current gross abuse of civil and human rights was a manifestation that government was no longer respecting international treaties of which it is a signatory.

"We think the current Uganda government has breached all the above conventions and should therefore face trial before the international community and be held to account" said a statement signed by Mr Moses Luzinda, the chairperson, United Ugandans Pro-Democratic Forum, an umbrella body for Ugandans in diaspora regardless of their political inclination.

Mr Luzinda said the comments and statements coming out of State House, Cabinet ministers and President Museveni himself continue to inflame the situation and was likely to cause more mayhem.
"There is no doubt there is economic hardship, but this is not the best way a government in power with 68 per cent of the national vote should behave," adding that the explanation offered by the government blaming outside factors for the rising inflation, which currently stands at 14 per cent ,was "pathetic and weak".