Police breaks up DP-Mao rally in Koboko
By Sharon S. Tibenda
18th Oct 2010
Gen. Kayihura's police arrest an opposition supporter
Overzealous police officers on Saturday 16th interrupted and eventually broke up a rally in West Nile that had been organised by the Mao faction of the Democratic Party [DP].
Mr. Norbert Mao, the President General of that faction of DP, had been scheduled to address party supporters in Koboko District. Writing on his facebook page, Mao said “…in Koboko, the District Police Commander came and ordered that we stop our evening rally. We explained that we arrived late because of the bad roads but to no avail”.
He further added that soon thereafter, “…a contingent of AK47 wielding uniformed police and others in plainclothes attempted to unceremoniously scatter the gathering. We told them of Museveni’s night rallies and held on to the microphone to tell the people that the guns are their tax money”.
Over the last few years, and especially since the army’s Maj. General Kale Kayihura took over from Gen. Katumba Wamala [another army General] as Inspector General of Police, countless opposition rallies have been violently broken up by the police and its stick wielding militia allies known as the “Kiboko Squad”.
In one previous incident, FDC party President Dr. Kizza Besigye, who is also the IPC flag bearer for the 2011 elections, was attacked and beaten by the “Kiboko Squad” after he and other IPC leaders tried to address a rally around Clock Tower on Entebbe road.
According to UPC party President Dr. Olara Otunnu, the subject of ‘selective police brutality’ is one of the issues that must urgently be addressed within the context of creating a level playing field to ensure free and fair elections in 2011 general.
President Museveni has in the past offered his support to the “Kiboko Squad” thugs arguing that they were merely ordinary business people in the city who were fed up with political activists interrupting their business during demonstrations.
For its part, Kayihura’s police force has insisted that any political rally in Uganda would be illegal if it is convened without the express permission of the Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura himself.
Kayihura’s police force recently tabled a controversial Public Order Bill through which it seeks to restrict even non-political gatherings like weddings and funerals convened by private citizens without the permission of the Inspector General of Police. END. If it’s Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent. Never miss out again!
