Dr Besigye’s vehicle is towed by a police breakdown truck on Luwum Street, Kampala yesterday. It was taken to Kasangati Police Station. Photo by faiswal kasirye. 

  
Opposition Forum for Democratic Change leader Kizza Besigye was yesterday placed under “preventive arrest” after confrontation with the police turned into a comical act even as a journalist was critically injured reportedly by a police tow vehicle.
A journalist, Ivan Kabbale, of the Nile Broadcasting Services, was according to eyewitnesses knocked down by a police breakdown vehicle that was towing Dr Besigye’s car from the city centre to Kasangati Police Station with Besigye and his political assistant Sam Mugumya seated inside. At Kasangati, Dr Besigye was  placed under “preventive arrest”, according to Police Deputy Spokesperson Judith Nabakooba.

Dr Besigye was arrested together with the Kampala Central Woman MP, Ms Naggayi Nabila SSempala, and the FDC chairperson, women’s league, Ms Ingrid Turinawe, whose cars were also towed to Central Police Station.
Ms Nabakooba told Sunday Monitor at CPS yesterday that police had to act fast because they suspected there was a likelihood of breach of peace. Citing Section 24 of the Police Act, Ms Nabakooba said it is the duty of the police to prevent a crime from occurring and people from being injured.
“If you suspect danger, definitely you have to move very fast and arrest the situation.
We have arrested them and taken them to a lawful place but we shall let them go home if we find no case against them,” said Ms Nabakooba.
Police fear that the Opposition is bent on disrupting the ongoing Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, the world’s largest meeting of all the parliaments, that officially opened yesterday (Saturday) at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo.
Earlier plans
Last week, Activists for Change leadership promised at a press conference that they would disrupt the IPU proceedings so that their defiance campaign is given audience.
Dr Besigye was detained at Kasangati Police Station while Nabila and Turinawe were briefly held at CPS and later taken to Jinja Road Police Station to record statements.
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