We shall not apologise, Ochola tells journalists

Jan 08, 2021

“Cooperate with us, we need you, you need us. It is not that we are the enemies of the media, we are trying to protect your life."

SECURITY | ELECTION WATCH | MEDIA 

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Martins Okoth Ochola has said that police will not apologize to journalists for allegedly being mishandled and beaten up by security officers while on duty.

"Cooperate with us, we need you, you need us. It is not that we are the enemies of the media, we are trying to protect your life.

If we tell you that there is danger there and you continue to go there, we shall beat you for the sake of your life," he said.

Ochola made the remarks at a pre-election joint security press conference attended by the security and defence ministers and other senior security officers at the police headquarters Naguru on Friday, January 8.

Ochola blamed the media of working to undermine the security forces by portraying them as being brutal and working against the government itself.

"We shall use reasonable force to ensure that you do not go where there is a risk and for that one, I do not have any apology.

You are saying is police apologizing for mishandling journalists?  

My answer is, very sorry, excuse me, we shall not apologize," he said.

Jeje Odongo(left) Minister of Internal Affairs and Adolf Mwesige Minister of Defence interacting. This was after a press conference



Relatedly the tough talking Ochola warned those who are threatening to cause violence during and after elections.

"Whoever foments trouble will regret why his or her mother gave birth to him or her. Whoever thinks he will cause anarchy in this country, will regret the consequences,'' he said.

He disclosed that the police was committed to working in collaboration with other stakeholders to manage all threats the country faces during this electoral period.

The IGP said this is necessary to ensure the protection of every person's right to vote and maintain confidence in the state to secure an accurate election

"As always, we pledge to remain transparent and vigilant to combat all threats against the election process.

We shall harvest whoever attempts to violate the norms of this country firmly and stringently within the laws of this country," Ochola said.

The defence minister, Adolf Mwesige reminded those who are acting as if there is no government during this election period will not like it.

"During the campaigns, there has been an impression that there is a vacuum. Some people have been behaving as if there is no government and would like to dispel that notion that even during campaigns, even during elections, the state is functional," he said.

Samuel Kavuma (left) Deputy Commander of UPDF Land Forces and Paul Lokech Deputy Inspector General of Police during a press conference



Mwesige said Ugandans deserve full protection of the state insisting that this is the reason why both the police and the military have been deployed to ensure there is peace and stability during and after elections.

He disclosed that Ugandans have a lot of trust in the security forces and the confidence of Ugandans cannot be forsaken.

"Whatever action they take will be lawful and they have a duty to keep law and order," Mwesige said.

He added that the security officers who could have mistreated the civilians during the recent riots will be investigated.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen Paul Lokech noted that they would not accept disorder and chaos in the country.

"Nobody will shake our resolve and you know we are a very resilient force. We also know that no country in the world is immune to these challenges, even the most democratic countries," Lokech said.

He urged the population to corporate with security noting that Electoral Commission (EC) had given them guidelines that they should not accept people to gather at polling stations as it has been a call by some political players to protect the vote.

Lokech urged Ugandans to vote and go home and that any act of hooliganism around polling stations would not be accepted. 

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