At least 20 youths were yesterday seriously beaten, leaving three in critical condition after it emerged they had been hired from different parts of Kampala to cause commotion at Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Kizza Besigye’s Kasangati residence.                 
A group of strangers, claiming to be FDC members, on Tuesday 1 November stormed Besigye’s residence demanding payment for work they allegedly executed for the party in monitoring the February general elections. When Dr Besigye, who was the IPC presidential flag bearer during the February 18 ballot came out of his house to listen to the group’s grievances, some members began fleeing. Their unprovoked escape raised suspicion and they were pursued and beaten by Dr. Besigye's supporters. Photo by Isaac Kasamani .

At least 20 youths were yesterday seriously beaten, leaving three in critical condition after it emerged they had been hired from different parts of Kampala to cause commotion at Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Kizza Besigye’s Kasangati residence.
The strangers, claiming to be FDC members and numbering close to 50, stormed Dr Besigye’s residence in small groups demanding payment for work they allegedly executed for the party during the 2006 and 2011 elections
Dr Besigye’s neighbour mobilised and confronted the youths. When Dr Besigye came out of his house to listen to the ‘aggrieved’ group, some began to flee. Their unprovoked escape raised suspicion, prompting a chase. One of those apprehended, Juma Isma a.k.a. Kasalita, was found in possession of FDC party membership cards allegedly issued in 2006.
Forged cards
Dr Besigye, speaking to the press later, said the membership cards presented by the claimants were forged since they do not bear the FDC seal and are not of the type issued out by the party five years ago.
Mr Juma also had an FDC appointment letter indicating he was a polling agent of Rukiga Constituency. “How can you be a polling agent of a whole constituency,” Dr Besigye asked the man, who said nothing.
Party loyalists kept watch over the opposition politician’s residence and vowed to continue doing so today. “We are seeing a proper rouge regime,” Dr Besigye said, drawing examples from a group of women that had visited his home in April to plead with him to abandon his walk-to-work campaign.
“We found they were NRM mobilisers from all over the city,” he added. “These people are being used due to the status they are in but those using them are very comfortable where they are,” Dr Besigye said, pleading with angry youths who had arrested Isma not to harm him further.
It has emerged several youths were mobilised from the areas of Nateete, Katwe and the surrounding areas and driven to Kasangati. Isma, a suspect who was badly beaten, said: “When we got to Kasangati, we were given FDC membership cards and appointment letters and told to walk to his home and demand pay,” the Katwe resident added, identifying his mobiliser as Coach Kabuye who runs a gym in Katwe.
Mr Andrew Kaweesi, the Kampala Metropolitan police chief, later appeared at the Kasanagati Police Post but declined to comment on the matter, citing lack of knowledge of the nature of the confrontation. Mr Salim Angoliga, the FDC secretary for security, reported the matter to the Kasangati Police Post.
jnjoroge@ug.nationmedia.com