Ugandan women strip to bras in protest at police assault on opposition leader

A number of women in Kampala were arrested by police on Monday after stripping down to their bras and detained at Kampala central police station in protest at the brutal way in which the opposition Forum for Democratic Change woman's league leader, Ingrid Turinawe, was arrested last Friday.

RFI/Tonny Singoro

Turinawe claims that during the incident, one policeman touched her breasts.

The police confirmed that the incident took place and that the one officer involved had been suspended.

The FDC women’s league leader was assaulted on Friday as police blocked a rally by the opposition in Nansana, outside Kampala.

After holding a press conference they marched to the central police station holding placards. On reaching the police station they stripped down to their bras prompting police to arrest them.

The Ugandan Metropolitan Police Commander Andrew Kawesi said the women were arrested because they did not seek permission from them to hold a public meeting and for exposing their private parts to the public.

Women and rights activists have described the treatment of Turinawe as brutal, cruel and condemned the force for violence against women.

Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal and Ms Alice Alaso, the Serere Woman MP, described the actions of the police as painful, inhuman and evil.