Uganda police force has warned opposition leaders to seek permission before holding public rallies, or else, they will continue disrupting them.
Addressing the media during the weekly press conference at the Central police station in Kampala this morning, Fred Enanga the police spokesperson said the Public Order Management law indicates that those intending to hold such rallies should inform the IGP 14 days before the intended date.
He added that the organizers must specify the size of crowds expected to attend, time, location, purpose and other basic information to ensure the smooth conduct of the assembly.
Enanga said that political actors who have followed these guidelines and those not using the language inciting violence have been allowed to hold assemblies with their supporters and police has not had any problems.
He however says the FDC party has continued to defy the orders of police by holding illegal rallies across the country. These have been to Kabale, Jinja, Tororo, Mubende and Lira under what the spokesperson terms as the hidden pretext of the freedoms of association, expression and assembly.
“The police are granted powers in policing assemblies of all forms and in all the instances, the police had legitimate reasons to disperse rioters like we did in jinja, Lira over the weekend who did not conform to the public order management act” Enanga said.
Police has now instructed its territorial commanders to work with political actors who keep their activities within the law and employ lawful means of dispersing unlawful activities.
According to Enanga, police has trained its officers on how to handle such rioters and selectively arrest the ring leaders instead of fencing off everyone.
This morning, police canceled an FDC rally that was expected to take this afternoon in Kasese due to the same reasons.
Vincent Twesige the East Rwenzori regional police spokesperson said they did not receive any information from the police head offices clearing the politicians to carry out a rally in the area.
“We shall not allow them to carry out the rallies and we shall arrest anyone who engages in this illegal rally” he said.
The rally was slated to take place at Nyakasanga grounds in Kasese town at 2PM. It had been organized by Party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat and former presidential candidate Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye.