Police in Mityana used live bullets, tear gas to disperse angry protestors who took to the streets to demonstrate against the alleged torture of their area MP Francis Zaake. 

Zaake was arrested on Monday, alongside other 34 individuals, among them, MPs Robert Kyagulanyi, Gerald Karuhanga, Paul Mwiru, MP-elect Kassiano Wadri and former Makindye East MP Mike Mabikke following the alleged stoning of the president’s convoy in Arua.

It is alleged that a group of supporters under the People Power pressure group, led by Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, obstructed the president’s motorcade and smashed the hind windscreen of one of the vehicles in the convoy. More than 30 people were arrested in the aftermath and subsequently charged with treason.

But Zaake never appeared in court. Instead, grisly pictures of him were circulating on social media, showing a swollen face and smashed fingers reportedly resulting from torture while under police custody.

 
The residents burnt tyres in the road to show their dissatisfaction 
His whereabouts remained unknown until when he resurfaced on Friday when he was checked into Lubaga hospital by a group of people, which, according to his lawyers, comprised of military personnel. He has since been on life support. 
The Uganda Human Rights Commission released a report on Friday indicating that Zaake had sustained multiple injuries on the head, arms and legs and that he was great pain.

Today, Sunday residents of Mityana municipality took to the streets, in a demonstration that paralyzed business in the area. They burnt car tyres and blocked access to all major roads, including the Kampala-Mityana-Mubende highway paralysing traffic flow. Scores of youth were arrested in the ensuing running battles with police.

The charged residents are demanding that the government provides the best medical care to the legislator or free him to seek advanced medication abroad.  They are also demanding for the unconditional release of Kyagulanyi.
 
Last year, Zaake was admitted at Mercy hospital in Minnesota, USA, after sustaining injuries on the skull, during a fracas in parliament when opposition MPs engaged in a fight with presidential guards during the debate to lift the presidential age limit.