Former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) President Rtd. Col. Kizza Besigye has been arraigned before Buganda Road Court and charged with inciting violence following his efforts to stage street protests against rising commodity prices
Besigye, the chairperson of the People’s Front for Transition (PFT), a political pressure group, spent Tuesday night at Nagalama police station after being arrested on Tuesday morning while addressing people at Arua Park in downtown Kampala.
This is after he sneaked out of his home in Kasangati, Gayaza, a Kampala suburb unnoticed despite his home being under heavy police surveillance, in an attempt to stop him from rioting.
Besigye has been calling on Ugandans to “wake up” and protest against rising commodity prices that the government blames mostly on the war between Russia and Ukraine, a major supplier of fuel, grain and edible oils.
Besigye, who was present before Grade One Magistrate Sienna Owomugisha, was represented by his lawyers led by Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, and he denied the charges.
However, in an attempt to secure bail for him, state prosecutor Joan Keko asked court to deny Besigye bail on grounds that his sureties who included Harold Kaija and Wafula Ogutu were not substantial.
Keko told the court that Kaija, one of Besigye’s sureties is a farmer and has no ability to compel Besigye to return to court, while Ogutu has multiple homes which will make it hard for court to trace him in case Besigye jumps bail.
Meanwhile, Besigye was ordered to pay a 30 million cash bail which he rejected saying it is too much and he chose to go on remand at Luzira prison until June 13, 2022.

Besigye giving instructions to his lawyer Erias Lukwago in court today
WHY PRESIDENT RUSHED TO DEFEND RISING PRICES
Credible sources in State House have told theGrapevine that president Museveni was not planning to give the national address on the state of the economy until the State of the Nations Address that precedes the budget reading, but he was advised to do so when Besigye kicked off his riots.
Sources disclosed that the president was told that if he keeps quiet about the rising prices on the commodities, Ugandans will take the opposition’s propaganda and believe it.
Some of the propaganda blamed the president on being behind the high prices. That he was rising taxes on commodities which in turn is forcing businessmen to also raise prices on goods.
The promoters of this line of propaganda allege that he is looking for money for the 2026 presidential elections and facilitating the marketing of his son Lt. Gen. Muhoozi through birthday parties which were celebrated countrywide to sell his name to the local populace.
Sources divulged that Museveni was also cautioned that if Besigye is not handled properly, he can bring back protests similar to walk to work which put his government on tension.
Sources revealed that it was the reason why Museveni was very bitter with politicians who want to get popularity through inciting the public on high prices of commodities.

Besigye’s driver Fred Kato was granted cash bail of Shs. 1million.
HE WON’T STOP – BESIGYE MAN WARNS
Kira Municipality Member of Parliament Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda disclosed that Besigye will not abandon the protests because his mission is to awaken Ugandans and tell them that there is no one who will fight for them apart from themselves.
“For me I cannot do what Dr. Besigye is doing, I am telling you. And I am sure my people in the opposition cannot do what he is doing. That’s why they are in hiding. Some of them think that he is going to take their positions in the opposition if they join him, which is not true, Dr. Besigye is not going to stand for president again,” he said.
He added that Besigye wants to show the public that even some people in the opposition in whom Ugandans have placed their trust cannot fight for them.
BALAAM SUPPORTS BESIGYE ON RIOTING
Balaam Bagaruhare Atenyi, the blue-eyed boy to Lt. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the Commander Land Forces, has supported Dr. Kizza Besigye on rioting because of the rising commodity prices.
Exclusively speaking to theGrapevine, Balaam revealed that Museveni’s speech was inciting the public against his top supporters since no solution was given to suffering poor Ugandans.
“I know that my president still works like a computer at his age but really the Sunday speech was inciting the public against us who publicly show our support to him. And people are very bitter with us. He needs to provide a solution to starving Ugandans,” he said.
He wondered why the President advised Ugandans to eat local food and decrease their spending when government is not ready to reduce taxes on commodities so that prices, even on locally made products go down.
However, Balaam warned Besigye not to turn his riots into a plot to take power through illegal means.
“We have the most intelligent army Generals sitting on the High Command who understand very well how to deal with riots and demonstrations, they will defeat what Besigye and his friends are trying to do,” he boasted.
By Sengooba Alirabaki
and Kobusiinge Monica
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