The inspector General of Police Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura has explained to our informers why the police throughout last year blocked most of the demonstrations that were organised by opposition politicians and parties.  

 Kayihura says that the organisers of the demonstrations for example walk to work campaigns (A4C) in the first case did not comply with the 1995 Constitution of theRepublicofUganda. Kayihura says the police received solid intelligence evidence that most of the protests were designed to start on a peaceful note but later turn violent and cause bodily harm on the people who would have shunned the campaign.

 The inspector general further says that the coordinator of walk to work protests for example, Masaka Municipality MP Mathias Mpuuga notified the Police late “considering the time required to prepare for such an event,” and that Mpuuga had concealed the A4C programme. Kayihura says that the concealment of the A4C agenda meant that the organisers of walk to work protests had ill intentions. Kayihura says that the Uganda Police under Article 212 has a duty to protect life and property, ensure law and order, prevent and detect crime.

Kayihura also says that the police drew lessons from previous experiences of the walk-to-work demonstrations among other protests which ended up in violent riots where roads were blocked, cars stoned and other property damaged as well as loss of lives.

The police boss further says that the organisers of walk to work protests did not indicate the specific location and times of their intended protests, in addition to obtaining clearance from the custodian of the premises they intended to use for their events.

By Moureen Nakyanzi