Police apologise over dispersing Mbogo clan members

The Police have apologised over an incident where officers lobbed teargas at a group of members of the Mbogo clan attending thanksgiving prayers.

The Mbogo clan members had convened at the clan's ancestral ground, located at Mugulu in Ziggoti town council for a thanksgiving Mass for their clan head, Gajuule Kayiira Kasibante.

The main celebrant was retired Masaka Diocese Bishop, John Baptist Kaggwa. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Enanga said the act was regrettable.

"It was not our intention and we apologise to all those who were affected by our actions, including Bishop Emeritus Kaggwa, the Catholic Church and members of Mbogo clan," Enanga said.

However, Enanga blamed the incident on supporters of Francis Zaake, who he said instigated the Police actions.

He also said their officers acted because they anticipated a bigger gathering due to a high number of politicians that had started to show up at the event.

"We have had a long confrontational experience whenever we encounter his (Zaake's) supporters," Enanga said.

He urged the events organisers to co-ordinate with the Police in future, in order to avoid opportunistic political actors from hijacking cultural events as was the case on Saturday.

"With better co-ordination, such disturbing incidents can be avoided," Enanga added.

According to the Police, all gatherings are supposed to observe standard operating procedures (SOPs). "They ought to have got clearance," he said.

Background

Over the weekend, Katikkiro Charles Peter Mayiga of Buganda kingdom condemned the Police for disrupting the thanksgiving event organised by the head of the Mbogo clan.

The prayers were in honour of the Mbogo clan leader, Gajuule Kayiira Kasibante, who until recently was chairperson of the kingdom's Bataka council.

"The Buganda kingdom condemns what the security officers did because it violates our culture and norms. The members of Mbogo clan had organised a prayer event to thank God for the service rendered by their clan leader when he served the Kabaka as the chairperson of the Bataka council (clan leaders) for six months," a statement signed by the Katikkiro read.

As the Holy Mass was underway, the Police raided the place and blocked some of the members, including the National Unity Platform president, Robert Kyagulanyi and former Makerere University vice-chancellor Prof. Ddumba Ssentamu, one of the clan elders, from accessing the venue.

The Police fired teargas, which left many clan elders, including the clan head, in pain. The clan head had to be rushed to a nearby health facility for treatment.

Kyagulanyi is a member of the Mbogo (buffalo) clan and he argued that he has attended the clan's events regularly.

The operation, led by Mityana district Police commander Alex Mwinemukono, halted the Holy Mass temporarily. The Police argued that the event had not been cleared by security and contravened COVID-19 guidelines.

Mwinemukono later allowed the Mass to proceed, but with a few people in attendance.

Mayiga explained that the event was organised in compliance with the COVID-19 prevention guidelines such as social distancing, washing hands and wearing of masks.

"But the security officers disrupted the function by dispersing the people and firing teargas. Although Bishop Kaggwa was able to finalise the Mass, there was a lot tension," Mayiga said.

He expressed dismay that Uganda security forces had violated the rights of Ugandans, including their right to practise their culture and norms.

"Members of the Mbogo clan are many and they belong to various political inclinations and various religions...Going to a clan meeting is like going to the church or mosque, where people belonging to various political camps go. We, therefore, condemn the act of blocking some clan members from accessing the venue to be with their clan leader," Mayiga said.

Describing it as disrespectful, Kaggwa condemned the act of disrupting the Holy Mass.

"How can you teargas elders who are seated in tents peacefully and observing social distancing?" Kaggwa wondered, saying people with authority should never abuse it.

The Mbogo clan head, Omutaka Kayiira, expressed worry that if security forces could behave in such a manner at a cultural function, what is likely to happen during the political rallies.

However, in its account of events, the Police said the group refused to co-operate and had not sought permission for the event, which forced it to fire teargas in a bid to disperse the ‘illegal gathering'.