Police grabbed FDC leader Patrick Oboi Amuriat off the streets of Soroti city today. The party announced his arrest Friday along with several members of parliament from the Teso region, including Joan Alobo and Jonathan Ebwaru. Nobody knows where officers took these politicians or why they locked them up. FDC officials demanded immediate freedom for everyone swept up during these arrests.
The party posted messages online asking police to reveal where they held Amuriat and other captured members. They named additional people seized by authorities, such as Isaac Asaku, who chairs FDC in Soroti City West, Mary Goretti Atemo, who wants to run for Kumi Woman MP, and Sam Acaitum. FDC stated these people deserve either quick release or proper court hearings instead of secret detention without legal process.
These arrests follow similar actions against members of another opposition group called National Unity Platform, especially around Kampala. Many NUP supporters have vanished recently without explanation. The family of Charles Bukenya reported armed men snatched him from the Nakulabye area in Kampala early Wednesday morning around 1 AM. He managed to send one message saying government agents had come for him before disappearing completely.
NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, blamed President Museveni for these disappearances and called them cowardly acts. He asked authorities to free Bukenya or bring him to court if he broke any laws. Government security teams deny having Bukenya in custody. These widespread arrests of political opponents worry many people about freedom in Uganda. The pattern suggests less room exists for different political views as officials target anyone who speaks against the current leadership.
The party posted messages online asking police to reveal where they held Amuriat and other captured members. They named additional people seized by authorities, such as Isaac Asaku, who chairs FDC in Soroti City West, Mary Goretti Atemo, who wants to run for Kumi Woman MP, and Sam Acaitum. FDC stated these people deserve either quick release or proper court hearings instead of secret detention without legal process.
These arrests follow similar actions against members of another opposition group called National Unity Platform, especially around Kampala. Many NUP supporters have vanished recently without explanation. The family of Charles Bukenya reported armed men snatched him from the Nakulabye area in Kampala early Wednesday morning around 1 AM. He managed to send one message saying government agents had come for him before disappearing completely.
NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, blamed President Museveni for these disappearances and called them cowardly acts. He asked authorities to free Bukenya or bring him to court if he broke any laws. Government security teams deny having Bukenya in custody. These widespread arrests of political opponents worry many people about freedom in Uganda. The pattern suggests less room exists for different political views as officials target anyone who speaks against the current leadership.
