Police have Tuesday fired to disperse crowds that had formed as National Unity platform (NUP) organized to open their offices around Balintuma Road in Old Kampala.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango says the party leadership had erected nine tents and mobilized people to attend in large numbers.
“They had also planned and hired a brass band to lead their procession from Namirembe up to the venue. We talked to the organizers to put in place all the necessary SOPs of the Ministry of Health. They refused to comply” Onyango says.
He added that they went ahead to organize the function without considering social distancing, majority had no masks and a few who had them were putting on in the wrong way.
Police argues that this was going to be a breeding ground for COVID19.
“We talked to them again and they decided to leave the venue but later on the reorganized and came attacking police. We responded by firing teargas to disperse them” Onyango noted.
He added that Police did not use rubble bullets during the operation and there was no injuries. Also, two suspects have been arrested and they are being detained at Old Kampala Police Station on charges of disobedience of lawful orders. By press time, the situation was back to normal.
