Uganda Police Force has vowed to crack down all illegal and unlawful Political consultative meetings ahead of 2021 By-Elections.
According to Police, they are closely monitoring the consultative meetings of the presidential aspirants who were cleared by the electoral commission to conduct their meetings a head of the 2021 general elections
It should be noted that the electoral commission cleared six presidential aspirants to conduct consultative meetings in coordination with the police for proper safety of the public.
While addressing a press conference at police headquarters Naguru, Fred Enanga the police spokesperson noted that police is monitoring the consultative meetings of the the presidential aspirants because some of them have failed to notify the police about their meetings and instead put them on social media.
Fred Enanga also noted that police will continue to gather intelligence about the public gatherings of politicians where they will continue to use all their means including teargas to disperse them once they are organized illegally.
However Fred Enanga revealed that they are willing to police all public gatherings of politicians especially the presidential aspirants who liaise with them during their preparation.
Below is police statement from Fred Enanga
We have noticed that some political actors and groups have released road-maps for public consultations online, and went on calling delegates and supporters to take part in these consultations. We would like to remind them that it is a requirement under the EC guidelines, for all aspiring Presidential Candidates to formally notify the police. At the moment we are carefully monitoring all politicians planning on holding consultations to ensure they do not flout these guidelines.
Based on recent experience, we saw the negative impact of illegal processions and assemblies, were serious threats to public order and public safety, where witnessed in Kasangati, Jinja and Soroti. As a result we would like to ask all politicians and their organizers to work with the police to achieve their objective of consultations.
As the public would expect, we continue gathering intelligence on all potential risks and threats to public safety. We have plans to respond proportionately, in the face of any violent situation by using minimum but necessary force that may include the use of teargas to disperse and arrest the offenders.
All our Territorial Commanders have been reminded to train and equip our officers to maintain public order and to further have effective plans of mobilizing officers within their territorial jurisdiction or across territories where necessary.
We pledge to continue policing all lawful and peaceful
