The police have issued a directive prohibiting the ongoing mobilization tours led by National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine.
The move follows multiple breaches of guidelines provided by the police, as stated in a press release by Deputy Inspector General of Police Maj Gen Geoffrey Katsigazi Tumusiime.
In the statement, Maj Gen Katsigazi expressed support for the right of individuals and groups to peacefully assemble and express their views on public policy matters. However, he emphasized that the NUP’s mobilization activities had consistently violated these guidelines, prompting the ban.
The police had previously warned of the vulnerability of Kyagulanyi’s rallies to potential terrorist attacks due to their open and difficult-to-manage locations. They also pointed out concerns about the use of inadequately trained personnel as guards by the NUP, endangering the safety of attendees and supporters.
The statement read by the police spokesman Fred Enanga noted that the NUP’s mobilization tours had resulted in chaos in the areas where they were held, leading to public disorder, traffic jams, business disruption, property damage, and even fatal accidents.
“Wherever the meetings have happened, there has been public disorder, unnecessary traffic jams, loss of business, malicious damage to property, 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.”Enanga read
Deputy IGP Katsigazi highlighted one instance where Kyagulanyi allegedly used a rally in Luweero to incite violence, promote sectarianism, make illegitimate calls for the removal of an elected government, and issue defamatory statements against President Museveni.
Due to these breaches, the activities of the NUP have been immediately suspended. The police’s decision to ban the NUP’s mobilization tours follows previous communications to the party’s leadership, urging compliance with the guidelines and the rule of law.
The statement concluded with a strong message that Uganda would not tolerate the disruption of peace and order and that the police, in collaboration with other stakeholders, would respond appropriately to any incitement of violence or civil unrest.
The police emphasized their commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining Uganda as one of the safest countries in the region and globally. The ban on the NUP’s activities remains in effect until they demonstrate compliance with the law.
“ We are sending this strong message, that our country, Uganda, will not wait for its villages, towns, urban centers and cities to burn, before taking action to protect its citizens and property. We are going to put an end to the mob mentality, bullying and intimidating tactics of NUP radicals, against innocent civilians and law enforcers. he said
Earlier in the week, NUP president Bobi Wine had accused security forces of using bomb threats to curtail their mobilization tours.