Opposition leader  Kizza Besigye on top of his vehicle as police tow it to Central Police Station  from Arua park in Kampala on May 24, 2022.  Photo-abubaker lubowa

By NANGAYI GUYSON

KAMPALA, Uganda –Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has given no relief to rising commodity prices, calling opposition calls for tax cuts "dangerous" and "suicidal," prompting Kizza Besigye, his political rival, to call for new protests.

Since May 12, Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential contender, has renewed his mandate to call on Ugandans to pour on the streets and protest against rising commodity prices in Uganda prompting police to station outside his home to impose what they call preventive house arrest.

However, this has not stopped him from beating security at his home and ending up in downtown calling on Ugandans to wake up and protest Museveni’s four-decade regime which he says has made Ugandans poor.  

Besigye's detentions come after he called on Ugandans to "wake up" and oppose rising commodity prices, which the government blames primarily on the conflict in Ukraine, a major source of grain and edible oils.

When the war between Ukraine and Russia broke out in February this year, prices for basics commodities in Uganda went up so high with a bar of soap costing £2 and a Kilo of sugar £1.5  among others which the opposition in Uganda say the rising prices are unfair and unexplained.

Russian Ambassador to Uganda, Vladlen Semivolos, denied Uganda’s rising commodity prices to be connected to Russian and Ukraine war say the rising prices can only be due to negative effects of Covid-19 outbreak.

Besigye has been a vocal critic of longtime President Yoweri Museveni's regime. Following the 2011 presidential election, his "Walk to Work" protest movement, which was partly inspired by rising commodity prices, was ruthlessly put down within months.

Besigye's present detention has enraged his supporters, and activists and others are calling for the government to interfere, maybe by reducing levies on everything from cooking oil to gas. However, authorities are dismissing this possibility and advising citizens to tighten their belts.

In a recent address, Museveni, an authoritarian who has been in power since 1986, advised Ugandans to substitute cassava for bread, claiming that the widely produced root tuber is a healthier option. Many people scoffed at this.

"If you can, produce more. We should utilize these imported commodities sparingly or find alternatives," Museveni urged in a speech on Sunday.

Many Ugandans still admire Museveni, who was previously lauded as part of a new generation of African presidents and a longtime US security friend, for providing relative stability to this East African country. Critics claim Museveni is becoming increasingly reliant on the security forces to stay in power.

The United States and others have recently expressed concern about alleged torture by security officials who are also suspected of kidnapping opposition supporters.

Opposition leaders not ready to join Besigye on the streets

NUP Party

Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, the NUP's Deputy Spokesperson, told the IEA exclusively that the party cannot join Besigye in his protests.

"We have other options to oust the dictator." We will not use Dr. Besigye's protests, but we wish him well," Mufumbiro stated.

However, while speaking to the press later, Dr. Kizza Besigye's protest against Uganda's high cost of living received backing from NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi.

Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, the president of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has expressed his solidarity with Dr. Kizza Besigye, the head of the People's Front for Transition (PFT).

"Standing in solidarity with you, Dr. Kizza Besigye, as you enter your fifth day of house arrest as a punishment for daring to demonstrate against the growing cost of living."

DP Party

Even though he and the Democratic Party support the cause, Democratic Party President Nobert Mao says he did not join Col. Kiiza Besigye in his protest against rising commodity prices. Mao reiterates that the Democratic Party supports constitutionally protected protests.

ANT Party

The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) has admitted that their structures cannot support a protest for even one day. Ms. Alice Alaso, ANT's head of administration, stated that they are employing other modes of protest since they are unsure that their structures can sustain a protest for even one day.

"We're employing different kinds of protest because we're not sure if our structures can maintain a protest on the streets for even one day," Ms. Alaso explained.

Ugandan police detain opposition figures in their homes on a regular basis, claiming that they can use preventive arrest to protect public calm.