Uganda Police Force has listed seven incidents that have informed its decision to halt, once again, the countrywide mobilization tour of main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) led by singer and politician Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine.
Last week, Bobi Wine and his NUP party were in the Western Uganda districts such as Bushenyi, Bundibugyo and Rukungiri after being allowed to resume their countrywide tour. But police had been following the mobilization trail and documenting violations, the basis of which police has now used to suspend rallies that were meant to happen in the districts of Bugweri, Pallisa and Soroti.
Police has now summoned David Lewis Rubongoya, the Secretary General of the National Unity Platform, to return to the Naguru headquarters of the force for a meeting on a way forward and further discussions after the main opposition party violated the guidelines set in the previous meeting. The meeting is scheduled for August 08.
Responding to Rubongoya’s notification of public meetings in Bugweri, Pallisa and Soroti districts, police director of operations Frank Mwesigwa listed at least seven incidents of violations of set guidelines, including alleged traffic offences.
“Uganda Police Force (UPF) acknowledges receipt of your notification of public meetings intended for the districts of Bugweri, Pallisa and Soroti received on 18th July 2024 under Ref: NUP/UP/0010/2024,” wrote Mwesigwa.
“On 11 July 2024, during the last meeting at police headquarters between UPF and National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership represented by the leader of opposition Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, we agreed on established guidelines for regulating your public meetings across the country. We agreed to ensure compliance with the law. However, several violations were observed.”
On behalf of IGP Abbas Byakagaba, SCP Mwesigwa noted that at 10:59 hours on July 15, 2024, between Fort Portal and Bundibugyo, a white Toyota Hiace vehicle Registration Number UBL 516L belonging to the NUP team was observed carrying passengers on its rooftop, violating traffic laws.
The following day, on 16 July 2024, at 14:28 hours along Bushenyi-Ishaka Road, wrote Mwesigwa, the NUP team conducted a procession, during which Bobi Wine “was seen stopping in the middle of the road to greet individuals.” On the same road, he added, vehicle Registration Number UBB 741W was seen with passengers seated in windows, contravening traffic regulations.
“On the same day, between 14:26 hours and 14:27 hours in Bushenyi, supporters of your party in red overalls were observed directing and controlling traffic which is a mandate of UPF,” he continued.
“Near Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, a black Harrier (Reg. Number UBP 117A) was noted transporting individuals seated on its windows, which is against traffic regulations. Other vehicles were also found with concealed number plates, also a violation of traffic laws.”
Still on the Ishaka-Bushenyi tour, police also observed that at 15:47 hours on July 16, 2024, while in Kizinda-Ishaka, the driver of the vehicle Registration Number 268S, a white Toyota Wish, believed to be part of the NUP team, “was seen driving while dancing and opening his driver’s door which amounts to interfering with safe driving.”
The other listed violations happened in Ntungamo Municipality, according to Mwesigwa. “On 18th July 2024, at 14:38 hours in Ntungamo Municipality, a Toyota Hiace vehicle Registration Number UBL 890S, white in color was observed carrying passengers seated in the windows, also violating traffic laws,” the director of operations further wrote to NUP secretary general Rubongoya.
“At 15:13 hours on the same day at Ntungamo Fuelex Petrol Station, your supporters were gathered beside the highway, causing significant disruption to traffic flow and inconvenience to the other road users.”
Mwesigwa also made it clear that police would not allow Bobi Wine’s tour in Bugweri, Pallisa and Soroti to continue as had planned. It is clear that the meetings will not happen before the meeting on August 08.
“As per article 43 (1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995, in the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms prescribed in Chapter 4 , no person shall prejudice the fundamental or other human rights and freedoms of others or the public interest. Section 33 (b) of the police Act Cap 324 gives police powers to direct the conduct of assemblies and procession on public roads or streets or at places of public resort,” noted Mwesigwa in a letter copied to the regional police commanders of Busoga East, Bukedi North and East Kyoga.
“Therefore, the police leadership has decided to halt the upcoming public meetings organized by NUP in the districts of Bugweri, Pallisa and Soroti due to non-compliance with earlier agreed guidelines.”
Reacting to the suspension, Bobi Wine said the “partisan police” under a regime that is “always looking for any excuse to block us” even when NUP leaders and supporters “have done everything to remain civil and non-violent.” He added: “They are pushing us to a point where we must resist all this madness!
On July 11, police allowed the countrywide tour to resume but issued Tough Conditions for Bobi Wine’s NUP Consultative Rallies Ahead of Western Uganda Tour. This followed a meeting between police and NUP officials. Apart from the meeting with police on the resumption of countrywide consultative meetings, Bobi Wine’s NUP officials also met with police to discuss the content taught at the party’s leadership school based in Kamwokya, Kampala. NUP officials rejected police’s demand to have the content taught every week sent to the Kira Road DPC. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
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