Police move in to thwart Lukwago meeting

By Simon Masaba
 
Police Monday morning deployed heavily in the city and its outskirts in an effort to foil a planned meeting organised by Kampala Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago and various stakeholders.
  
The deployment, Police say, follows intelligence reports indicating that some political activists have mobilized youths to cause chaos in the city centre on today.

The reported areas of this planned scheme are (around) Kiseka market, Najjanankumbi, Kireka, Owino and other places meant to coincide with meeting, planned to be held at St. Matia Mulumba.

The Police’s response comes after Lukwago wrote to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Gen. Kale Kayihura requesting for permission to hold a stakeholders meeting at the said venue.

But Police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba, in a press statement said: “Police have been legally advised by the Attorney General, Peter Nyombi, that, Mr. Lukwago does not have authority to convene the contemplated meeting as the Lord Mayor of Kampala and that such meeting is likely to cause a breach of peace.”

She went on to say that meetings engaged in the planning and coordination of criminal activities have been held in various places before.

In the statement, she cited chaos, engaging in burning and destroying property as some of the activities.

“We have also received information that they plan to stage a kidnap of either a member of Lukwago’s family or his deputy so that they blame it on government,” the press statement dated January 4, reads in part.           

“This is to caution and strongly advise the youth [who have been mobilized] to shun the evil plans because they are misleading,” she said in the release.            

Last year, KCCA councillors impeached Lukwago through a vote, but court granted the politician an order challenging his impeachment and to have him reinstated.
 
However government has since challenged that decision by court.