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Uganda Opposition Leader's "Walk-to-Work" Risks Arrest

   Minister for internal affairs Kirunda Kivejinja says Kizza Besigye's
   walk to protest high transportation cost will disrupt transportation
   and business

   James Butty  April 14, 2011

   Uganda opposition leader Kizza Besigye being loaded into a police truck
   during Monday's arrest

   In Uganda, the stage was set Thursday for a possible confrontation
   between police and opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his supporters.

   Besigye vowed to stage another 'walk-to-work' to highlight what he says
   is the high cost of transportation in Uganda.

   The police say publicizing the desire to walk to work amounts to a
   procession that will disrupt traffic and business.

   Kirunda Kivejinja, Uganda's Minister for Internal Affairs in charge of
   police, says there are laws governing processions.

   'Within our own constitution, which guarantees the freedom of
   everybody, it also says that, in exercising your freedom, make sure
   that you don't disturb the freedom of others. Within our own
   constitution, it is the police that are responsible for keeping law and
   order. So, what we are saying is, if anybody wants to demonstrate, let
   him inform the police and be able to tell us who are the people you are
   going to demonstrate with, what route they want to take, what their
   destination is so that we can prepare security all along,' he says.

   Besigye told VOA Wednesday he and the other opposition leaders have
   every right, under Uganda's constitution, to walk to work without
   intimidation.

   Kivejinja says, while it is true that most people walk in Africa,
   walking as a form protest is another issue.

   'In Africa, the majority of the people are walking. So, walking is not
   a big issue. They can walk if they want to walk. But, when you walk for
   a purpose and you have announced that I am going to do this to
   challenge established order, that's [a] different matter,' Kivejinja
   says.

   Besigye admits that problems such as the high cost of fuel and food are
   not unique to Uganda. But, he says the government of President Yoweri
   Museveni should have put in place contingency plans to deal with these
   unforeseen crises.

   Kivejinja says Besigye has no mandate to claim to be speaking for the
   people of Uganda because he had the chance during Uganda's recent
   election to bring about an alternative government, but failed to win
   the election.

   'He had a chance as an alternative government to put those policies
   he's talking about in place, but he prevented himself. Where does he
   get that mandate? And there are many ways to bring about that change.
   Will the walking be able to resolve that issue? He has members in
   parliament. Why do you leave the channels to solve the problem and you
   go into others which will bring about antagonism?' Kivejinja says.