‘Ugandan government attacked MPs’

FORMER Forum for Democratic Change presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye, has accused the Ugandan government of being behind several stun grenade attacks on the homes of two opposition legislators.

Besigye claims the motivation for the attacks was an attempt by Kampala to intimidate opposition MPs and citizens who oppose a proposed bill to lift the presidential age limit which will enable President Yoweri Museveni, who has already been in power for 31 years, to stand again in elections in 2021.

Police said they were investigating the circumstances of the attacks on the Kampala homes of Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana, and Robert Kyagulanyi who lives in Kyaddondo East.

However, government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo dismissed the claims and said the incidents were probably tactics used by the opposition to frame the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.

“Flash grenades at opposition MPs’ homes could be own scare tactics to frame the government. There is no record or history of this NRM government killing political opposition,” Opondo said.

Tuesday’s grenade attacks followed a similar attack earlier on another opposition MP.

The home of Moses Kasibante, MP for Rubaga North, was attacked last week as he languished in detention after being roughed up and arrested from Parliament by members of the police and special forces.

Mayhem broke out in Uganda’s parliament last week as the government tried to introduce a motion removing the presidential age limit.

Punches and chairs were thrown and a number of MPs were arrested while others marched out, slamming the security forces.