President Yoweri Museveni’s government crackdown and brutal arrests on the latest “Walk to Work” day organized by his political rivals has seen Uganda going back to the dark days of Amin's rule which was characterized by human rights abuse, political repressions, ethic persecution, extrajudicial killings, nepotism, corruption , and gross economic mismanagement.

Amin killed a good number of people during his regime which international observers and human rights groups estimated the range from 100,000 to 500,000and his regime was backed by Libya's Muammar al- Gaddafi who is now facing serious hard time from the rebels supported by the international military intervention headed by NATO.

Besigye, President Yoweri Museveni's main challenger during the Feb. 18 polls, has been leading protests against escalating food and fuel prices since last month. He launched the "walk to work" protests on April 11 by calling on supporters to walk the streets at least twice a week to demonstrate against high food prices which were cracked down by brutal arrests.

But Uganda's annual inflation rate which increased to 14.1% in April, from 11.1% in March forced the opposition leaders led by Veteran , Kizza Besigye to again launch a new round of demonstrations against soaring food and fuel prices in Kampala by driving around the city honking car horns, and was joined by hundreds of motorists and other city dwellers who used whistles and other noise makers.

The latest noise-making campaign is a supplement to the earlier "walk to work" protests, Mathias Mpuuga, an opposition leader who coordinates the protests, said.
In the past two weeks, the police have kept Besigye under close watch, placing guards around his residence and barring him from participating in the bi-weekly marches.

On Monday, he managed to drive from his home under heavy police escort after he assured the police that he would not participate in the "walk to work" protests, party officials said.

Besigye has been arrested at least five times ever since the protests broke out and has repeatedly pointed to protests in North Africa and said Ugandans could easily topple Museveni's government if their basic concerns are not addressed.

Museveni blames drought

President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, blames drought for high food costs and soaring oil prices for surging local fuel costs saying drought have caused instability in oil markets have added additional costs to food transportation.

The factors which may be beyond Museveni’s control, leading to accusations of political opportunism by his rivals, who have not only highlighted their issues through protest, but seized upon his public statements toward high food prices:
Museveni said “When food prices go up, yes people in towns suffer. But farmers are very happy,” and are wondering what opposition leader Kizza Besigye is talking about. That prices gone up is good for them.”

As the protests have gathered momentum, Museveni has sought to defuse the opposition momentum saying, "if Besigye demonstrates, will it bring international oil prices down because he has demonstrated? will it rain because Besigye has demonstrated? He warned that continued protests would actually drive food prices high as growers and transporters will fear losing business in the violence.