The opposition in Uganda has lashed out at the arrest and detention of Dr. Kizza Besigye, the President of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Speaking from Washington D.C. in reaction to her husband's arrest, Winnie Byanyima said she was "â-oenot shocked but enraged." Indeed this expression of her view and feelings could well be representative

of many other keen followers of political developments in Uganda since the return of Dr. Besigye from exile in South Africa on October 26, 2005.Most of the opposition has insisted that it was just a matter of time before the arrest was carried out. The FDC Deputy President Reagan Okumu assured supporters the party would do all in its means to ensure Dr. Besigye contests in the March 2006 presidential elections. "We are not going to take it lying down. Come sun or rain, Dr. Besigye is going to be nominated by the party to contest against Museveni because he is the only one he fears," said Okumu. He added: "Fighting a dictatorship is not easy and so one has to be prepared to pay the price. But we shall defeat him because dictatorships do not last," Okumu told supporters. Okumu also said his party was in close contact with the donor community and had thrown to them the challenge to come in, as partners, to avert developments that are likely to derail the democratization process. The European Union Head of Delegation Mr. Sigurd Illing confirmed the donors were indeed going to meet soon and analyse the situation.

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader, who returned to Uganda from exile in South Africa about three weeks ago, was yesterday (Tuesday) charged with treason, concealment of treason and rape. Dr. Besigye, together with 22 other treason suspects, were later remanded by the high court and sent back to Luzira Maximum Prison, awaiting fixing of the hearing date, a schedule that will now follow normal procedures. Court dismissed pleas by his lawyers not to have him detained in isolation and to allow him access to food from his home. In a related development, Kampala City has over the past two days witnessed a series of violent lawlessness, with Monday, November 14, (the day of Besigye's arrest) turning bleak in the evening as supporters of Col. Besigye, who were protesting his arrest, fought pitched running battles with anti-riot police. This made part of the city look like the deserted scene of an intense battle, as the police fired teargas canisters in a melee that left four people dead by Tuesday evening.

However, by press time yesterday the city was calm and the heavy presence of military police had subsided and, Ugandan president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had, in his first speech since Besigye's arrest, cautioned opposition politicians against inciting the public. "I appeal to the politicians who are going to radio stations to incite the public to stop it because they are breaking the laws," said the president. Meanwhile, the media quoted the opposition castigating Besigye's arrest.

"For long we have told Ugandans that they live under a dictatorship but now they have seen for themselves. It all amounts to fear the Movement has for the man (Besigye) because of the mass support he has from Ugandans," FDC Secretary Geberal Alice Alaso said adding that a team of lawyers would challenge Besigye's arrest. She said the charges against Besigye were fabricated.

"The charges are silly and ridiculous. Did that person who was raped have to wait for all this long? And why is she coming up at this time? The PRA itself is a creation of the Movement government," the Daily Monitor quoted Alaso as saying.

Others like FDC's Deputy Secretary General (Policy/Research) Mr Augustine Ruzindana and Democratic Party President General Dr. Paul Kawanga Semogerere also criticized Besigye's arrest, with the former saying the government was wasting its time by oppressing the opposition.

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