UPC calls for review of Public Order Management Act

The Uganda People's Congress (UPC) party has told the government to review what it terms as the conflicting law on public order management.

Their counsel comes shortly after the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, also directed the government through the Internal Affairs Ministry of issue a statement explaining why the Police continue to disrupt activities of opposition politicians.

On Easter Monday, the Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi who subscribes to the People Power political pressure group was blocked from holding his music concert dubbed Kyarenga Extra at his One Love Beach in Busabala.

Addressing media at a weekly press briefing at the party headquarters in Kampala, UPC spokesman Michael Orach Osinde said the government needs to review the Public Order Management Act to see whether it is misplaced and to clearly define the role of the Police.

"The law says informing the Police, not the Police to give permission. The Police must practice the law. It is unfortunate that we receive action to the contrary. It must be revised especially as political parties and other actors need space to carry out their activities ahead of the elections in 2021," Osinde added.

UPC spokesman Michael Orach Osinde addressing the media at the party's headquarters in Kampala. Photo by Godiver Asege

In an interview, Polly Namaye the deputy Police spokesperson said that when organisers write to the Police and "do not get feedback. It means the letter is not clear or written wrongly."

She said any letter written is internalised by the Directorate of Legal Services and Human Rights who give the response with further recommendations/guidelines.

"That directorate has the mandate to internalise the notice and respond. Those notices must be sent on time. At times when the writers do not get feedback, it means it was sent late, or it was written wrongly," she noted.

Namaye said all players must ensure they follow the set guidelines. "Not FDC alone but all those holding political activities must follow the set guidelines," she said.

UPC also called on the Electoral Commission (EC) and Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) to kick start early civic and voter education to guide voters as the country prepares for the 2021 general elections.

"Some MPs splash money on the day preceding the voting. They take advantage of the prevailing poverty situation among the voters and change their minds at the last minute," Osinde noted.

He noted that lack of civic and voter education is the main reason why the country continues to face massive voter bribery, high rate of invalid votes, apathy, low voter turnout, political intolerance and political radicalism among others.

He said this leads to having a national Parliament and districts full of incompetent leaders.