Bodaboda storm city
Jun 29, 2004
THE Constitutional Square in Kampala was yesterday the scene of a demonstration against a Constitutional Court ruling
By Henry Mukasa and Herbert Ssempogo
THE Constitutional Square in Kampala was yesterday the scene of a demonstration against a Constitutional Court ruling that nullified the June 2000 referendum.
Business in the central business district was interrupted for over six hours by noise and commotion as hundreds of boda-boda operators and Movement supporters ferried from city suburbs jammed the streets.
The group, mainly of youth and women, chanted Movement slogans, blew whistles, horns and shouted words demeaning judges and accused them of usurping their (people’s) supremacy.
The demonstrators, under The People’s Revolutionary Uprising (PRU) chaired by Moses Luutu Mukasa, fuelled their bikes at GAPCO petrol station in Kamwokya. It was not possible to ascertain who paid and how much was paid for the fuel. Nakawa division boda-boda chairperson, David Mali said each rider contributed sh1,000, and State House provided 400 litres of fuel.
Two pump attendants gave contradicting information. One said they had received a cash cheque while another said payment would be effected later.
PRU deputy chairperson, Sam Okumu Mangeni, denied that the group got any penny from the state. The group converged at the Constitutional Square adjacent to the High Court with banners and placards asking the judges to resign or be sacked by President Yoweri Museveni. Baton wielding Police personnel cordoned off the High Court.
The placards said, “We are tired of politician judges, Judges are a wasted institution, Bin it, To hell with judge Twino, Peasants are more important than judges and Judges are rebels.â€
Others said, “All judges should resign, Museveni akyafuga (Museveni is still president), Abebibiina muve ku Movement (Opposition should back off Movement) and Ministry of Justice is corrupt.â€
The demonstrators were draped in essanja (dry banana leaves), a pro-third term symbol.
“Where were the judges when Ben Kiwanuka (former Chief Justice) was killed?†a man asked.
There was a brief scuffle when the mob descended on DP’s Church-Ambrose Bukenya baying for his blood. Bukenya had just told some Police officers that since the Police had allowed the demonstration to take place, they should let DP hold its demonstration in support of the ruling.
Deputy regional Police commander Basil Mugisha called in reinforcements and Bukenya and DP supporters Dominic Matovu and councillor Sekidde were evacuated. A boy who said, “Museveni agende (Museveni should quit)†was beaten and left for dead.
At 1:45pm, the group led by a brass band, blaring disco music mounted three Isuzu lorries and with Kadodi dancers, marched to Parliament where Luutu Mukasa presented a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Sekandi. The memorandum, which accused the Judiciary of trying to “thwart and reverse the progress of the people,†rejects the court ruling that the referendum was invalid.
“A decision of the people cannot be subject to the approval of a small band of appointed public servants such as the five judges of the constitutional court. The people are sovereign,†the memorandum signed by Luutu said.
“In view of this attack on the people’s sovereignty and on their Constitution, we demand that the Chief Justice takes disciplinary action against all the corrupt, sectarian, partisan, and political judges who participated in this absurdity,†it added.
“By copy of this document, the appointing authority of the judges H.E the President should dismiss those judges for attempting to usurp the people’s power,†the memorandum said. The President hailed the demonstrators for supporting him and the Movement.
THE Constitutional Square in Kampala was yesterday the scene of a demonstration against a Constitutional Court ruling that nullified the June 2000 referendum.
Business in the central business district was interrupted for over six hours by noise and commotion as hundreds of boda-boda operators and Movement supporters ferried from city suburbs jammed the streets.
The group, mainly of youth and women, chanted Movement slogans, blew whistles, horns and shouted words demeaning judges and accused them of usurping their (people’s) supremacy.
The demonstrators, under The People’s Revolutionary Uprising (PRU) chaired by Moses Luutu Mukasa, fuelled their bikes at GAPCO petrol station in Kamwokya. It was not possible to ascertain who paid and how much was paid for the fuel. Nakawa division boda-boda chairperson, David Mali said each rider contributed sh1,000, and State House provided 400 litres of fuel.
Two pump attendants gave contradicting information. One said they had received a cash cheque while another said payment would be effected later.
PRU deputy chairperson, Sam Okumu Mangeni, denied that the group got any penny from the state. The group converged at the Constitutional Square adjacent to the High Court with banners and placards asking the judges to resign or be sacked by President Yoweri Museveni. Baton wielding Police personnel cordoned off the High Court.
The placards said, “We are tired of politician judges, Judges are a wasted institution, Bin it, To hell with judge Twino, Peasants are more important than judges and Judges are rebels.â€
Others said, “All judges should resign, Museveni akyafuga (Museveni is still president), Abebibiina muve ku Movement (Opposition should back off Movement) and Ministry of Justice is corrupt.â€
The demonstrators were draped in essanja (dry banana leaves), a pro-third term symbol.
“Where were the judges when Ben Kiwanuka (former Chief Justice) was killed?†a man asked.
There was a brief scuffle when the mob descended on DP’s Church-Ambrose Bukenya baying for his blood. Bukenya had just told some Police officers that since the Police had allowed the demonstration to take place, they should let DP hold its demonstration in support of the ruling.
Deputy regional Police commander Basil Mugisha called in reinforcements and Bukenya and DP supporters Dominic Matovu and councillor Sekidde were evacuated. A boy who said, “Museveni agende (Museveni should quit)†was beaten and left for dead.
At 1:45pm, the group led by a brass band, blaring disco music mounted three Isuzu lorries and with Kadodi dancers, marched to Parliament where Luutu Mukasa presented a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Sekandi. The memorandum, which accused the Judiciary of trying to “thwart and reverse the progress of the people,†rejects the court ruling that the referendum was invalid.
“A decision of the people cannot be subject to the approval of a small band of appointed public servants such as the five judges of the constitutional court. The people are sovereign,†the memorandum signed by Luutu said.
“In view of this attack on the people’s sovereignty and on their Constitution, we demand that the Chief Justice takes disciplinary action against all the corrupt, sectarian, partisan, and political judges who participated in this absurdity,†it added.
“By copy of this document, the appointing authority of the judges H.E the President should dismiss those judges for attempting to usurp the people’s power,†the memorandum said. The President hailed the demonstrators for supporting him and the Movement.