Kizza Besigye, a Ugandan political activist and former presidential candidate has been arrested near his Kasangati home in Wakiso district after attempting to leave his home where he has been under house arrest.
According to a Ugandan news outlet, Besigye, was arrested as he attempted to go to Kasangati town to resume his protests against the high commodity prices in Uganda.
“I will not accept to be kept in my house like I am a prisoner in my own country. This must stop,” Besigye was quoted as saying.
The police have not given any reason for his arrest. However, he has recently been vocal in his criticism of the Ugandan government’s failure to cushion its citizens in the wake of rising prices of essential commodities.
Besigye’s arrest comes a few hours after President Yoweri Museveni ruled out the likelihood of tax cuts to help people cope with the rising costs of living.
The president of Uganda said, the country is currently stuck between absolute “economic collapse and survival.”
“It is not true that we tax everything. The very crucial items, are not taxed. Therefore, removing taxes or subsidizing many of the imports is suicidal and a blunder,” Museveni said.