Stop random shootings, Museveni tells Police

President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Martins Okoth Ochola, to stop random shootings by the Police and Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel under the command of the Police.

Museveni's directive to Ochola followed what he described as unnecessary shootings in Katakwi, Bugiri, and Isingiro, which left four people dead.

"There was shooting dead of one person in Katakwi, one person in Bugiri and two people in Isingiro. Analysis of these shootings show that many, if not all of the shootings, were unnecessary," Museveni stated in his letter dated September 8, to IGP Ochola.

Citing Katakwi, where one person was shot dead, Museveni said civilians were fighting among themselves during the elections and thus there was no need to shoot at them.

He said: "Why shoot them? Why not scare them by shooting in the air or simply arresting them? It is said that in Bugiri, some members of the public, stoned the armed personnel. That was bad. However, shooting to kill should not have been the first option."

Museveni advised that the Police should have identified the stone-thrower and arrested him for prosecution, adding: "The shooting, if at all, should have been to disperse, which would mean shooting in the air. You should analyse incident by incident."

The President reminded the Police authority about the Public Order Management, which guides the Police on public security management.

Under the Public Order Management, according to Museveni, shooting must be on command and not by individual security personnel letting off guns.

He also asked the Police to always follow, to the letter, the standing orders of riot control, which include steps like diplomacy, telling people to disperse.

Among others, the President reminded the Police to always inform the public of intention to use forceful means, such as non-lethal means, like tear gas, shields, fi re live bullets in the air and fi ring to disable if the rioters are charging forward unstoppably and endangering the lives of the security personnel in self-defence.

The President also cautioned private security organisations that are also armed, saying they are not mandated to deal with the public.

The President asked the IGP to ensure that by October 15, 2020, there is a booklet with guidelines on the points he raised.