Let us not be intimidated by prison - Besigye after release on bail

Besigye made this urging outside court following his release on bail, adding that if Ugandans join him and speak with single voice, they shall register a singular blow against the regime of president Museveni.

Besides, he added, police will not be able to arrest everyone.

“If we all agree here and march to the police and say, we are here, arrest us, we are not even going to apply for bail just take us to prison. What can they do?” Besigye said.

“If another 5000 people come and the other day 10,000 come, who will they arrest and where will they put us? Let us not be intimidated by prison,” he stressed.

Besigye argued that Museveni’s regime asks Ugandans to tighten its belts on the one hand and squanders billions on the other as Ugandans sink deeper into the raging seas of poverty.

“This is our country; we must fight until everyone is free. You cannot tell teachers to be patient when you are buying vehicles worth a billion plus...the State House alone is taking Shs 2 billion per day…,” Besigye decried.

He said that enough is enough, Ugandans must draw a line in the sand and take a stand against such abuse of authority.

Besigye and fellow activist Samuel Lubega Mukaaku have been on remand in Luzira Prison for two weeks under the charge of holding “illegal protests.”

Besigye and Mukaaku were both arrested on June 15, 2022 in downtown Kampala where they addressed a growing crowd, inciting it to protest against the rising prices of commodities in the country.

On Friday, Buganda Road Chief Magistrate Dr Douglas Singiza released the two on bail.

The two were also granted a cash bail of Shs. 2.5 million each. Their sureties were bonded at Shs 500,000 each.

Singiza ordered them to return on July 29, 2022.