Police have confirmed the arrest and detention of 3 FDC supporters that include social media pundit Samuel Tusiime, Ismail Muyinda and Asia Nanyanzi, saying that these were planning a demonstration in Jinja and Kampala.
Social media over the weekend was flooded with angry comments after the news emerged of the arrest.
Tusiime was picked up by police on Sunday afternoon and taken to Kampala Central Police Station before being driven off to the SIU headquarters in Kireka where he was still being held by publication time.
The youngster according to his colleagues was arrested after he published on his Facebook page a photo of himself with T shirts bearing the photo for jailed former FDC presidential candidate Col Dr Kizza Besigye.
In the post, he complained about the arrest of one of his close friends, Ismail Muyinda who had printed the T-shirts. The latter he said, was picked by police operatives from Amber House in Kampala.
Addressing journalists on Monday morning, the police spokesperson Fred Enanga said they got wind that the group had printed and planned to distribute over 120 t-shirts with Kizza Besigye’s photo for demonstration purposes.
“They would carry out an illegal demonstration in Jinja and later proceed to the Nakawa Magistrates Court where Dr. Besigye will appear in court,” Enanga said.
“So far 20 t-shirts have been recovered as we try to look for others as inquiries go on.”
Enanga noted that on many occasions, protesters especially from the FDC party choose not to adhere to conditions and provisions of the public order management act adding this cannot be allowed to continue.
“If they want to break the law, we will not tolerate disobedience of the laws of this country. We are prepared to take very swift and decisive enforcement action should it become necessary,” he warned.
Enanga revealed the group will be charged with disobeying lawful orders since by the time of their arrest; the Constitutional court order against the FDC defiance campaign has not expired.