By Timothy Nsubuga

23^rd April 2012:

Sickening: Police officer pulls Ingrid's breast

The opposition Forum for Democratic Change [FDC] Party President Dr Kizza Besigye has expressed outrage at the manner in which Uganda Police Force officers indecently assaulted opposition pressure group For God & My Country [4GC] activist Ms Ingrid Turinawe, who is also his party’s Women’s League Leader.

In a telephone interview with this reporter, the incensed opposition leader said: “There is simply no diplomatic way of describing the attack on Ingrid.  It was totally outrageous and sickening”, the FDC chief said, adding that, “the situation has deteriorated into unimaginable obscenity that totally vindicates our resolve to peacefully resist the regime’s oppression of our people.”

Police high on Marijuana

Dr Besigye also re-ignited an earlier allegation in which he accused some police officers of being high on some narcotic substances.  “You see, when I expressed concern sometime back that some of Kayihura’s officers could be marijuana smokers some people thought I was mad.  Now you can see for yourself.  How can a clear headed man attack a defenceless woman in broad day light and with such violence and obscenity?”, Besigye said.

The FDC leader, who sounded genuinely incensed and emotionally moved by the indecent attack on Ingrid Turinawe, however vowed to continue ceaselessly with the campaign to cause political change in Uganda through peaceful protests.

“What the government does not realise is that the more they brutalise our people, the more they strengthen their resolve to kick them out.  More and more people are joining the struggle for freedom…there is no turning back now.  The people of Uganda are going to liberate themselves from this tyranny whether Museveni likes it or not”, Besigye declared.

Amin days are back

Repeating his previous assertions that President Museveni’s government had become virtually indistinguishable from the bad old regimes that Ugandans fought and defeated, Dr Besigye said:

“Our post-independence history is full of very traumatic and tragic political events caused by bad leadership.  The level of terror and brutality that we are seeing today is not significantly different from the terror and brutality we endured during Idi Amin’s rule.” Besigye said, before going on to pose a series of thought provoking questions.

“Why these people [in the NRM] have failed to learn from history I will never know.  How did Mobutu’s rule and life end?  How did Gaddafi’s rule and life end?  Where is Mengistu today?  Where is Emperor Bokasa today?  Where is Mubarak today?  The lessons are plentiful, but they are burying their heads in the sand…and that is very sad.” Besigye said.

The ‘sickening’ attack

Following the government’s decision to ban the opposition-leaning political pressure group Activists for Change [A4C], the pressure group’s leaders decided to reconstitute themselves into a new political pressure group whose name, “For God And My Country” [4GC], quite interestingly, is derived from Uganda’s national motto.

The energetic opposition political activists Ingrid Turinawe, who has been very instrumental in organising anti-government protests over the last twelve months, was indecently assaulted by police officers last Friday as the new 4GC pressure group attempted to organise a public rally in Nansana – a Kampala suburb.

In the fracas that ensured, a well kitted riot police officer was caught on camera as he grabbed and squeezed Ingrid Turinawe’s breasts, as he tried to pull her out of her vehicle.  With the obvious grin of pain written all over her face, Ms Turinawe shouted at the police officer and said:

“What have I done? Please stop squeezing my breasts. It’s very painful. Please stop. The pain is too much. What have I done to deserve this treatment? It’s inhuman,” Ms Turinawe screamed as she was forced into a waiting police van.

Click here to view the indecent attack on Ms Ingrid Turinawe by a police offer and give us your comments below.  END.  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.