In 2013, the government of Uganda enacted into law the Public order management act meant to provide for the regulation of public meeting, and provide for the duties of the police, organizers and participants of the meetings.
Yesterday, former presidential candidate and leader of the national unity party Robert Kyagulanyi held a press conference in which he declared himself President of Uganda and called upon his supporters to hold riots and demonstrations across the country to reclaim his victory which have not been cleared by police.
The underlying principle of the Act is to regulate the exercise of the freedom to assemble and to demonstrate together with others peacefully and unarmed. The word Regulate is defined under this act as the means to ensure that conduct and behavior conforms to the requirements of the constitution.
The Inspector General of Police or an authorized officer for that matter shall have the power to regulate the conduct of all public meetings in accordance with the law.
An organizer of such a public meeting or gathering shall give Notice signed by the organizer to the authorized officer of his intention to hold such an event. In the absence of the above, an authorized officer may direct any person participating in such a meeting to disperse. The officers in charge have the mandate to stop such illegal meetings under the Act.
A person or group of persons that disobey this lawful order commits an offense and is liable on conviction to a penalty and so are the organizers.
This takes us to the gist of the matter in reference to the November 2020 riots in which over 30 people are reported to have died following unlawful riots and demonstrations as stated by the POMA. Robert Kyagulanyi is therefore liable for the actions of the people that he has mobilized to assemble and demonstrate without seeking permission not notifying the authorities.
The lives of these people is in the hands of Kyagulanyi and he ought to be brought to book to answer for the subsequent infrigements of the law.