On the 4th day of `Walk to Work’ protests, gunshots rang out in downtown Kisekka market at 11am, after news was released that opposition leader Kizza Besigye had been re-arrested a few kilometers away at Mulago roundabout.

From our Top Partner in Uganda: The Independent
by Achola Rosario

Earlier a planned demonstration from Makerere University to Luzira prison to have another Party President Norbert Mao and the DP 6 released never took off after police deployed a huge contingent that surrounded the group and intimidated them.

Tear gas and firing
They then deployed to all neighboring areas like Kisekka market. Kisule, boda-boda (motorcycle) cyclist says, “ people just spontaneously started filling the streets. Police started firing in the air. I do not know if they were live bullets or rubber bullets. Nobody threw stones at Police.’’

Tear gas could be felt from Buganda road court and Central Police station, several streets above Kisekka market. There was very heavy deployment around CPS, perhaps as back up on stand-by to be re-deployed easily around hot spots in the city.

Proof on camera
Fifteen minutes later, the Kisekka market unrest had been forcefully quelled and one man had died as a result of a brutal beating by police, having had his head smashed in by police batons. Police deny the incident, but a picture was taken on camera phone of the dead man being loaded onto a police vehicle and whisked away.

Other witnesses say they heard on radio that Mao was being moved from Luzira Prison to Nakasongola barracks in order to thwart the Makerere University solidarity march, and they came out of their shops and blocked the road.

They say the situation was calm until police started harassing the traders. Jamal, a mechanic says, “police are the ones who started shooting in the air. Police started the whole fight.” Then he adds, “Business is very bad these days. I only make shs2000 or shs5000 shilling everyday. Before I used to need to make shs10, 000 everyday to survive, but now I need shs20, 000 yet I only make shs5, 000.

Listen to Besigye
The problem is that they (government) only want to work for themselves. They need to listen to Besigye, other leaders and the people. Physical protests can bring change. Change of government or to force them to talk and make a coalition government.’’

“There is no democracy here’’ says Mzee Sande John, a shop owner in Kisekka market. “What we want is for the government to negotiate with stakeholders and we the business community because we are the ones who are suffering the most. This (protest) is not for Besigye, it is not for Mao, it is not for NRM, it is for all us Ugandans.’’

Walk to Work
Another adds, “Besigye is arrested at Luzira, but we don’t know why he is there. Why? We support `Walk to Work’ 100 percent because things are too high. Prices of each and everything are high. No food, no medicine- we are suffering yet they buy jets. They have so many stores for money yet for us we have nothing. I have been working for 10 years.

I have 4 children and I am married with 2 wives and everyday I go home with shs10, 000. Police beat to death one man badly. They beat him on the head and crushed his head, nose and mouth. He was just walking on the street from one shop to another.’’

Read more on The Independent