Scenes of pandemonium erupted outside the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court on Wednesday as two individuals, leaving a treason hearing involving Dr Kizza Besigye, were forcibly apprehended by plain-clothed operatives and bundled into a notorious white “drone” vehicle.
The incident sparked outrage among Besigye’s supporters and drew sharp condemnation from legal professionals.
As hundreds of attendees exited the court premises, eyewitnesses reported that operatives in civilian clothes and suits swiftly moved in, seizing two people and forcing them into a waiting white drone parked across from the court.
One of the arrested individuals was reportedly lifted bodily into the vehicle, which then sped off in the direction of the nearby Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) headquarters, located a stone’s throw from the court.
Screams for the victims’ safety pierced the air, and a melee ensued.
An enraged Besigye supporter reportedly landed a heavy punch on one of the arresting officers.
This prompted a rapid response from Joint Anti-Terrorism (JAT) operatives, dressed in uniform and in a double-cabin vehicle, who swiftly moved to escort the “drone” and its occupants.
Counter-Terrorism officers stationed at the Nakawa Court attempted to give chase but were outmaneuvered by the swiftness of the “drone” and its plain-clothed escorts.
Harold Kaija, the Secretary General for the Patriotic Front for Freedom (PFF), a breakaway faction of the FDC, confirmed that one of the arrested individuals was Umar Katongole, a Councilor from Kira Division.
Sources close to the matter informed this reporter that Katongole’s arrest may be linked to an earlier disturbance within the courtroom.
Prior to the commencement of the session, a person suspected of being a state spy was reportedly chased out of the courtroom by Besigye’s supporters.
This individual had been observed secretly capturing images of the supporters while seated among the audience, raising suspicions and leading to accusations of being a “state mercenary.”
Other sources suggested that Katongole and another person had been participating in songs critical of the government, specifically targeting President Museveni and his son, the Chief of Defence Forces, before the court session began.
Earlier, supporters had been heard singing empowering songs to Besigye and his co-accused, urging them not to surrender and expressing belief that “one day Museveni and his son will die and for them they will reign.”
Commenting on the arrests, lawyer Eron Kiiza, who himself has been a victim of similar arrests from court premises, vehemently condemned the actions.
“Courts are supposed to be sanctuaries of liberty, not dangerous scenes of arrests by security operatives,” Kiiza stated.
“These court precincts’ arrests intimidate the people and discourage them from accessing court premises since they cease being the safe havens the Constitution envisions them to be.”
The use of drones for arrests has become a recurring and contentious issue in Uganda, particularly targeting those perceived to be opposed to the ruling government.
Despite numerous public outcries and court orders aimed at upholding human rights, such incidents continue to be reported, raising serious concerns about due process and the rule of law.