Kampala city deputy lord mayor Doreen Nyanjura has been arrested over ‘Free Kizza Besigye’ protests.
She was arrested alongside political activist Faridah Nangozi and Ingrid Turinawe, head of mobilization in the People’s Front for Freedom (PFF).
The trio was detained near Arua Park in downtown Kampala. Eyewitnesses described the scene as violent, with heavily deployed police officers forcibly arresting the women as they rallied Ugandans to stand up against injustices.
“Police officers bundled them into a patrol vehicle as people started gathering around. They were taken to CPS [Central Police Station],” an eyewitness said.
Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) spokesperson Patrick Onyango confirmed the arrests but said a formal statement would be issued later.
Heavy security deployment in Kampala
The arrests occurred amid a significant security presence in downtown Kampala, aimed at preventing further protests demanding Besigye’s release. Heavily armed security personnel, including the Field Force Unit (FFU), counterterrorism officers, and plainclothes detectives, were deployed at key road junctions.
Security forces also restricted access to the PFF offices at Katonga. Meanwhile, boda-boda riders and pedestrians were being instructed not to stop in areas such as Mulago Roundabout, Lugogo, Makerere Kavule, Bwaise, and parts of the city centre.
Addressing journalists at police headquarters in Naguru, police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said the heightened deployment was based on intelligence suggesting possible unrest in the city.
“Our deployment is based on the need. Today, intelligence indicates that there are individuals planning to cause unrest, so we must deploy accordingly as a countermeasure to address potential threats,” Kituuma said.
Turinawe and Nyanjura had spent the weekend rallying for a nationwide “Free Besigye” protest, urging Ugandans to demand the release of Besigye and other political prisoners.
“Let us raise our voices for the freedom of Dr. Besigye, all political prisoners. Free Uganda. Free All. Start from where you are, use what you have, and do what you can,” they posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Last week, Turinawe and other activists were arrested while protesting the continued detention of Besigye and Abed Lutale at Luzira Prison, despite a Supreme court ruling that deemed military courts in their current form unconstitutional. They were later released on bail under strict conditions, including a warning to refrain from illegal activities to avoid bail revocation.