The Uganda Police has halted the planned mobilisation activities and opening of the offices by the National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership until a time when they are ready to comply with the guidelines and rule of law.
In a statement issued by Major General Geofrey Katsigazi Tumusiime, the Deputy Inspector General of Police, on August 13, 2023, the police sent a strong message that Uganda will not wait for its villages, towns, urban centres, and cities to burn before taking action to protect its citizens and property.
“We are going to put an end to the mob mentality, bullying, and intimidating tactics of NUP radicals against innocent civilians and law enforcers,” he stated.
According to Katsigazi, the police, under its mandate to regulate meetings under Section 32(1) of the Police Act, granted permission to NUP to conduct nationwide mobilisation activities and the official opening of party offices.
“Additional guidelines were given on the proper conduct of the activities, which included proof of permission from owners of venues, gatherings in town halls or appropriately enclosed areas, prohibition of processions, demonstrations, unregulated rallies, acts of incitement of violence, or other public order management violations,” Katsigazi said.
Katsigazi also said that the police noticed that in all areas where there were NUP mobilisation activities, there had been a total breach of the guidelines, thus causing public disorder, unnecessary traffic jams, loss of business, and malicious damage to property.
He cited some instances, in Mbarara city, where NUP rowdy supporters vandalised a Toyota Hiace (reg. UBD 251J) and caused traffic accidents, and in Hoima city on September 11, 2023, where one Mugisa Norman died and 10 others got serious injuries during the NUP convoy.
“Furthermore, in Kasana, Luwero district, the mobilisation activity was used to incite violence, promote sectarianism, make illegitimate calls for the removal of an elected government, and issue defamatory statements against the person of HE, the President of the Republic of Uganda,” Katsigazi added.
He said that, in view of the above blatant breaches of the guidelines and prior communication to the NUP leadership on September 12, 2023, the activities of NUP were immediately suspended.
According to Katsigazi, the police have very robust plans to uphold the rule of law in liaison with other stakeholders and will respond appropriately against the perpetuators of incitement violence that can lead to civil unrest throughout the country.
The police state that the directive will stand until a time when the NUP is compliant and law-abiding.
