Young people form groups against violence - Gen Tumwine

SECURITY|MINISTER|VIOLENCE

KAMPALA - Security Minister Gen Elly Tumwine has said many young people have formed groups against violence and they are going to educate fellow youth.

"They have come together from all parties to say, ‘Violence Hapana (No)', so those who have been trained to cause violence, should know that they are being sent into great danger," Tumwine warned.

He told the young people in an interview with New Vision on Sunday (November 22, 2020) that the future belongs to the organised and disciplined.

"Check your level of organization and your discipline. For peaceful living, for freedom, for democracy, for justice, for elections, for business and for farming, you need to be secure and safe; not in chaos, anarchy, and violence," he said.

According to the latest World population review, Uganda has the second youngest population in the world right after Niger with 55% of our population below the age of 18 years. In Uganda, youth aged between 18 and 34 constitute 75% of the population.

Tumwine warned those inciting and advocating for violence that it will catch up with them. 

"You reap what you sow. Uganda's security forces with the support of patriotic Ugandans are confident to defend our sovereignty and lives of our innocent people," he said.

His remarks follow rioting in some parts of Kampala and other towns which broke out on Wednesday after the arrest of National Unity Platform presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.

Kyagulanyi was arrested by police shortly after arriving at his campaign venue in Luuka district and detained at Nalufenya Police Station in Jinja.

His arrest saw 45 people killed, scores injured, and at least 577 arrested in two days of protests.

The Police said Kyagulanyi was arrested for allegedly violating the Electoral Commission (EC) and Ministry of Health COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.

He was subsequently charged in the Iganga Chief Magistrates Court on Friday with doing an act likely to spread infectious diseases, under Section 171 of the Penal Code Act.

Kyagulanyi, however, pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. 

The chief magistrate Jessica Chemeri warned him to adhere to set guidelines by the Ministry of Health and the EC to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

Enforcing published laws

Tumwine also noted that it is the duty and responsibility of patriotic citizens and more so of security forces to enforce the published laws and guidelines.

"The arrest of one person cannot just cause the death and injury of so many people and disruption of life in Kampala and some of the areas. The arrest of any citizen is part and parcel of management of society," he said.

He stated that the presidential candidates, MPs, religious leaders and all the other leaders who have and should have the respect of the people are not immune from arrest.

"The moment any one of them behaves like a criminal or breaks the law, he or she is treated as suspected criminals are treated. And this is at all times. Now more so under campaigns and in COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

He said if the arrest of one of these very respected individuals was to attract violent protests, it will be daily because some individuals of these respected people are suspects regularly. Recently, you have seen pastors arrested,"

The minister argued that this is not the first time in Uganda or elsewhere that a Presidential candidate has been arrested.

"The EC has explained how many times it has issued warnings. There are legal provisions for arrests and their procedures. The best way to avoid arrest or to be at peace with your neighbours and from security forces who have the responsibility to enforce the law is to avoid criminal thinking, criminal talk, and criminal actions," he said.

Don't justify criminality

Tumwine said nobody should try to justify criminality or breaking of the law with impunity. 

"No one should intimidate, threaten, beat, or stop another one doing his or her legal work. The long arm of the law will catch up with those who do that," he said.

He told the public that wrong people will not disrupt the hard-won peace and stability.

"Whenever such challenges have come, we have handled them carefully, consciously, and emerge victorious in defence of the common good of the people. We are better prepared than before. You have tested proof to trust us then hope that hooliganism can save a country," Tumwine told Ugandans.