Police block new Walk-to-Work demo

By Anne Mugisa

The Police have blocked the walk to work demonstrations planned to start on Monday saying the organisers have not complied with the constitution.

A letter by the Inspector General of Police, Kale Kayihura on October 14, to Masaka Municipality MP, Mathias Mpuuga, gave six reasons why the demonstration would not be allowed. 

Kayihura stated that most disturbing is that Police has received solid evidence that, the demonstration was designed to start peacefully but later resume the violence and mayhem that characterized the first Walk to Work campaign.  

Mpuuga had written to the Police on October 14, 2011 over the demonstration which he said would take a week starting Monday, October 17, 2011 and culminate in a rally at the Kololo Airstrip. He signed the letter as national Coordinator- Activists for Change.

Kayihura responded and said that Mpuuga notified the Police late “considering the time required to prepare for such an event,” and that he had concealed their programme. Instead, according to Kayihura, they have issued a warning to the Inspector General of Police, which he said is an indicator of bad faith.

 He pointed out that walking to work is not unusual and is not criminal but Mpuuga’s is a protest which is subject to the Constitution, other laws of Uganda and guidelines agreed by different stakeholders. 

“In fact, the court rulings that you make reference to do not at all attempt (as they cannot) to diminish the unfettered responsibility imposed on the Uganda Police under Article 212 that provides for our mandate, namely, protect life and property, ensure law and order, prevent and detect crime,” Kayihura’s letter stated.

He also said that the Police is mindful and drew lessons from previous experiences of the walk-to-work demonstrations which ended up in violent riots where roads were blocked cars stoned roads and other property damaged as well as loss of lives.

“Many crimes were, indeed, committed, and to date the CID is handling 113 case files.  It is therefore, not true that your Walk to Work did not have criminal incidents.

He said that Mpuuga also knows that the Uganda Human Rights Commission developed guidelines which were agreed on by stakeholders including political parties, spelling out minimum requirements for a demonstration. 

“Of interest to you would be the requirement to indicate the specific location and times of your intended activity, in addition to obtaining clearance from the custodian of the premises you intend to use for your event.  In this particular instance, you give the location of your activities as ‘countrywide’, which makes it impractical for Police to secure your activities, and you have not confirmed whether the custodian of Kololo Airstrip (Office of the President) has cleared you to use the grounds for your rally on 22nd October, 2011.  Clearly, therefore, you have not fulfilled the minimum requirements,” Kayihura stated.

 The IGP also pointed out that Mpuuga has made public announcements calling on public transporters to paralyse public transport starting Monday. 

“In fact, I have received several petitions from several interest groups concerned about your campaign. In particular, concerned parents and school administrators have petitioned me informing me that national examinations are set to begin on the same day you intend to paralyze public transport i.e. on Monday, 17th October 2011.  The concerned parties find that your intended actions infringe on their rights, and indeed, find it insensitive and selfish of your group to target a time when their children and institutions require peace, order, and stability, so that the candidates, the examiners and the institutions are stress free to go about that exercise. 

He said other groups who have petitioned the Police include business and youth groups, basing their apprehension on previous bad experience in your campaigns.  He said that the Constitution gives people rights, but in enjoying them, one must not prejudice other people’s rights as well as public interest.

“Police, as custodians of law and order, shall, therefore, not stand idly by and expose the public to actions that terrorize the public and destroy life and property, at any time, again,” he stated… Accordingly, and in conformity with the Constitution, we shall not allow you to go ahead with the Walk to Work week as you have planned, until you review your plans taking into account the abovementioned concerns,” he stated.