By Frank Kamuntu
Uganda Police has finally banned the political gatherings of National Unity Platform leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine-Swift Daily News reports.
Maj Gen Katsigazi the Deputy IGP says in a statement issued on Wednesday evening that NUP supporters have disregarded a number of guidelines provided to them by police.
Police says some of the guidelines given to NUP 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 to violence, or other public order management violations.
”While we completely support the right of individuals, groups and other citizens to peacefully gather or assemble, and make their views on matters of public policy, we have noticed that, in all areas where the NUP mobilization activities have been carried out, there have been total breaches to the guidelines, thus causing public disorder, unnecessary traffic jams, loss of business, malicious damage to property,” says Katsigazi adding;
”For instance, in Mbarara City, their rowdy supporters vandalized a Toyota Hiace, under reg. no. UBD 251J, and traffic accidents, including a fatal one in Hoima City, on the 11.09.2023, where a one, Mugisa Norman died and 10 others got serious injuries, during the NUP convoy.”
Police says furthermore, in Kasana-Luweero District, the mobilization activity, was used to incite violence, promote sectarianism, make illegitimate calls for the removal of an elected government, and issuance of defamatory statements against the person of H.E. The President of the Republic of Uganda.
”In view of the above blatant breaches of the guidelines, the activities of the NUP are immediately suspended. This announcement is a follow-up, to our communication of the 12.09.2023, to the NUP leadership, halting the planned mobilization activities and opening of offices, until such a time that they are ready to comply with the guidelines and rule of law,” says Police.
Katsigazi adds that they are going to put an end to the ‘mob mentality, bullying and intimidating tactics of NUP radicals, against innocent civilians and law enforcers.’
