Kampala attacks ‘start of drive to oust Obote’

Press, 11 February 1981, Page 8

Kampala attacks ‘start of drive to oust Obote’

NZPA-Reuter Nairobi A previously unknown Ugandan group has claimed responsibility in Nairobi for attacks on seven police stations in the Ugandan capital Kampala, and said it was the start of a campaign to depose President Milton Obote. ' k >• Three men told reporters in Nairobi they were members of the Uganda F r e e d o ni Movement, founded secretly more than a year ago to restore freedom and democracy to Uganda. They said.they attacked the police stations early yesterday to capture weapons for their struggle against the Obote Goyernmnet elected last December.’. Kampala residents and Army spokesmen confirmed to reporters by

telephone that there had been attacks on police stations and other violence in the Ugandan capital during the night. Radio Uganda’s official report of the attacks said two policemen were killed. The men who did not identify themselves or their leaders said 500 supporters some of them soldier staged the attack. “This is the start. We will be striking all Oxer Uganda soon” one of the three said. “There will be revoke tion by the people of Uganda against the corrupt Government which grossly rigged the last General Election and flouted public opinion and which continues to commit murder, robbery and rape” the three said in a statement. They said some of their leaders served in the first

two interim Governments that ruled Uganda after the overthrow’ of Idi Amin in 1979. The three spokesmen said they were a medical doctor, a university lecturer and a former diplomat. Their supporters attacked Luzira Prison Bkm from Kampala as well as ( the police stations, they said. In Kampala reporters who went to the prison were told by residents there had been heavy firing there all morning. And they were stopped by an Army officer waving a pistol who shouted: “The situation is not good. You must go back.” At Kawempe police station 6km from the centre of Kampala, the police said one constable was killed and one abducted by the raiders.