Police dares NUP to resume countrywide tours
- Written by URN
Fred Enanga (L) addressing the media
Police have dared the National Unity Platform (NUP) party to resume its countrywide tours that were canceled last week by the deputy inspector general of police, Maj Gen Geoffrey Katsigazi Tumusiime.
It came after NUP’s leadership vowed to resume their countrywide mobilization tours upon return from overseas trips. Key NUP figures, including the party president Robert Sentamu Kyagulanyi also known as Bobi Wine, secretary general Lewis Rubongoya, and spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi are currently meeting with their diaspora members and supporters.
Speaking to the media shortly after Tumusiime's decision to cancel the tours, Ssenyonyi dismissed claims of violence and sectarianism and declared their readiness to resume activities upon their return from the diaspora.
Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, has provided further details on why the force cancelled NUP's mobilization tours. Enanga cited credible information indicating that NUP had planned to confront police officers in a bid to create disorderly scenes for political gain.
“While the NUP insist their mobilization tours were peaceful, we had credible intelligence that they were determined to confront police and attract ugly scenes, disrupt the unregulated processions, and cause significant risk to the public, motorists, pedestrians, bystanders, and participants,” Enanga said.
Rubongoya dismissed police claims that they were planning to attack security personnel as baseless. He stated, “But of course, it's hogwash for them to make such ridiculous claims. You saw how peaceful our activities were wherever we went, so there is no iota of truth in those claims.”
Kyagulanyi has been drawing large crowds in almost every part of the country during their initial phase of mobilization tours. In this phase, NUP visited various locations, including Mbarara, Kabale, Kasese, Mbale, Mayuge, Hoima, Arua, Lira, and Luweero.
Maj Gen Tumusiime argued that during these visits, NUP did not adhere to police guidelines, leading to traffic disruptions, business losses, property damage, traffic-related fatalities, and public disorder.
“In the first phase, the police and sister security agencies exercised restraint and avoided any confrontation with NUP, that could have attracted ugly scenes, for publicity and negative propaganda against the police and the country at large,” Enanga said.
Tumusiime emphasized that they could not afford to witness cities, towns, and the entire country in turmoil, which was their reason for canceling NUP's countrywide tours. Police alleged that Bobi Wine and other NUP party leaders were inciting the public to protest against the government.
Comments
In 1980s during election campaign Museveni treverse the country telling the citizens that he would go to the bush should the 1980 election be rigged.
With anger and without any evidence, Museveni ran to the bush and started mass killing of innocent civilians in Luwero which later became Luwero triangle.
Today Museveni and his government does not want any Ugandans to even try to say that he or she will go to the bush should election be rigged.
He or she commit crime should the crowds dance and are happy when they see or listen to him.
It is a crime when the mass citizens follow you the political leader. This police will have to stop you using archaic laws to stop popular support.
Do the police not realise that peaceful protest is a fundamental part of democracy?
Is it not the case that the larger the number of protesters the more likely it is that there is widespread dissatisfaction with the government?
Are these protests not an indicator that a large section of the population thinks that the current government does not represent them and is therefore no longer fit for purpose? It has been well said that you can silence individuals, but you cannot kill an idea. History has a funny way of repeating itself.
Interestingly, there is a pattern.
Gen. Muhoozi's unpredictability lays at the center of the happenings of the last few weeks. The intention was to create an impression that Gen. Muhoozi is not being treated with exception.
However, as he has done numerously before, he will trigger new turbulence sooner than later. Then the frantic drama will resume. These, my friends, are interesting times.
No wonder like a Chameleon, depending on the mood, Afande Enanga is always switching from one Military Camouflage uniform to another.
Eish!
After all, what are you Ugandans are going to say or do about it anyway.
In that case Police doesn't ban vehicles but just controls their movements Yes crowds of Kyagulanyi people were all over places which unfortunately affected other road users.
The police must be there to control people in peaceful way without shooting or teargassing them. I don't think public can disobey rightful orders by not moving or running on sides of roads and give way to other unconnected road users.
The Deputy Police chief must be sober to avoid making decisions based on emotions rather than reason. Banning can't be reasonable Afande.
Watch and see what determination the Ugandan people have.