The Uganda Police Force (UPF) has issued a clear warning against planned demonstrations set to take place on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. According to a statement released by police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma, there are ongoing mobilization efforts on social media calling for people to march to parliament.
Unidentified organizers have circulated placards urging citizens to gather on all Kampala streets, but details regarding the time of commencement and organizational specifics remain unclear. Rusooke emphasized the potential for disorder due to the lack of transparency in the event’s organization. “Given the lack of transparency and potential for disorder, the police strongly warn against proceeding with this march,” he stated.
The police spokesperson made it clear that while the right to peaceful protest will be respected, the UPF will not tolerate any attempts to incite public disorder. “Uganda Police Force is issuing a clear warning against attempts to incite violence or breach public order through uncontrolled demonstrations,” Rusoke reiterated.
The UPF urged individuals who wish to exercise their rights, such as the right to assembly and demonstration, to work collaboratively with the police. This cooperation is crucial to ensure that these expressions of rights are not hijacked by individuals with criminal intentions.
“The right to a peaceful protest will be respected, but police will not tolerate attempts to incite public disorder,” Rusooke affirmed. ” UPF urges persons who wish to exercise their rights to always work collaboratively with it to ensure that they don’t aid persons of ulterior motives to hijack these expressions to accomplish criminal intentions.”
The police statement comes weeks after violent protests by Kenyan youths protesting against the Finance Bill and wasteful expenditure by the William Ruto government. The youths took to the streets and stormed the parliamentary building forcing legislators to flee for dear life. The protesters vandalized the chambers before they torched part of the parliamentary building. Fifteen youths were gunned down by security.
