Police boss warns A4C over demonstrations
SOURCE: THE DAILY MONITOR, 10 APRIL 2012
The Inspector General of Police, Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura, has vowed to block planned activities by Activists for Change (A4C) that he said are to be held soon. In a press statement issued by the Uganda Media Centre on Sunday, Gen. Kayihura said they learnt from media statements that the A4C pressure group plan to continue with the protests despite an order by the Attorney General, Mr Peter Nyombi, deterring them.
Nyombi’s strike“We wish to state, in no uncertain terms, that such planned demonstrations and assemblies, if held, will be unlawful and police will not allow them. It is the duty of the police to enforce law. I strongly urge the organisers of these events to reconsider and avoid falling foul of the law,” Gen. Kayihura said.
Last week, Mr Nyombi invoked Section 56(2) of the Penal Code Act and declared A4C an unlawful society. The declaration has punishments for members of unlawful society that range from two years imprisonment to seven years on conviction.
But Mr Mathias Mpuuga (Masaka Municipality, Independent) told Daily Monitor yesterday that they have not planned any events and have issued no media statements. “We haven’t issued statements or planned any events. Our work isn’t clandestine. The IGP must be a desperate man. He is trying to use A4C to justify his facilitation,” Mr Mpuuga said.
The MP added: “We shall announce the next programme so let him wait for the announcement before he asks for a budget”. Gen. Kayihura warned that even those who will attend the functions organised by the A4C will be violating the law.
Last week, several civil society organisations and human rights groups condemned Mr Nyombi’s declaration as a law that is stifling constitutional rights to assemble. But Gen. Kayihura said: “Let me assure the public that the Uganda Police Force will continue to protect and serve all in the lawful exercise of their constitutional rights and freedoms, conducted in a peaceful, and orderly manner, and as long as they do not prejudice the rights and freedoms of others or public interest (Article 43 of the Constitution)”.
The opposition group has held rallies in and around Kampala sensitising citizens on the regime’s failures and the need to change governance.
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