Opposition leader Rtd. Col. Dr Kizza Besigye has been arrested at Entebbe International Airport immediately after he disembarked a Kenya Airways flight from London.
Eager Besigye supporters were left puzzled after the former presidential candidate didn’t exit the VIP wing as was expected.
“Besigye has been whisked away by military at the airport. We do not know his whereabouts,” Forum For Democratic Change (FDC) broke the news on their official Twitter page.
Several opposition leaders like Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, Makindye West MP Allan Ssewanyana, Kawempe South’s Mubarak Munyagwa joined FDC officials to welcome Besigye, but he didn’t show up.
Police Spokesman Felix Kaweesi said Besigye was held as a preventive measure as FDC had planned a procession to Kampala, which Police said would cause chaos and disrupt business.
“We picked him as he was exiting the departure lounge shortly after he landed and safely escorted him to his home in Kasangati,” Kaweesi said.
“The arrest was necessary because we had intelligence that his followers were planning to cause chaos along Entebbe road and as police, we could not allow that. It’s part of our duty to prevent crime,” Kaweesi added.
Police and military deployed heavily along Entebbe Road and journalists were barred from accessing the airport.