Police and the UPDF in Mbarara on Thursday arrested the region’s Democratic Party Vice President Imam Makumbi, while he prepared to launch a procession in protest of Tuesday’s adaptation of the age limit removal bill by NRM MPs.
Makumbi was organizing the protest under his party’s Kogikwatako campaign which is aimed at preserving (102) (b) of the constitution.
He was picked by Mbarara police together with the UPDF who had heavily deployed around the Municipality to prevent the procession.
Makumbi was whisked away in an army pick – up truck to the Rwizi regional police offices, on the directives of the RPC Robert Walugembe who headed the operation.
There he was engaged in talks with police and UPDF authorities for about 2 hours.
He was later released on condition that he would call off his procession.
The UPDF’s 2nd Division Commander Col. Fred Karara directed Makumbi to be driven in the army vehicle back to his office where he was enthusiastically welcomed by DP supporters despite heavy deployment by the army and police around the party offices on Mbaguta Street.
Makumbi was dropped off by an army truck at his party offices in Mbarara
While speaking to journalists upon release, Makumbi vowed to carry on with the Kogikwatako procession, noting that they were still waiting for another DP team from Kampala to join them.
Makumbi went on to condemn the manner in which he was arrested and forced into an army truck and threatened to sue both the police and the UPDF.
Makumbi addressing journalists after his release
He said he wrote to Police boss Gen. Kayihura on 29 August 2017 about his procession but never received a response.
The Rwizi RPC Robert Walugembe told Chimpreports however, that Makumbi and his team never received police permission to hold the rally.
By publication, DP members were still at their offices waiting for their comrades from Kampala to proceed with the procession.