THE OPPOSITION MATCH TO PROTEST THE REAPPOINTMENT OF THE DISCREDITED ELECTORAL COMMISSION IN UGANDA PUT OFF AFTER THE STATE DEPLOYS POLICE IN KAMPALA STREETS.
Writes Leo Odera Omolo
TENSION remained high in the Ugandan capital City of Kampala since Monday, following the postponement of the planned peaceful protest match against the government re-appointment of what the opposition has described as the “Discredited Electoral Commission of Uganda”.
The Inter-Party Cooperation {IPC ] on Monday morning called off a planned march through Kampala City, citing lack of adequate security protection assurances from the police.
The march was planned by the joint four opposition parties, who had on Sunday, announced of a planned peaceful march through the capital city streets, as part of the mass actions and activities, starting with peaceful demonstrations in Kampala streets, to protest the re-appointment by the government, of the Electoral Commission.
The protest march was also meant to protest the government closure of the popular CBS FM radio station, operated by the Buganda Kingdom. The radio station was closed down by the government last September, after being accused of incitement and promoting sectarianism, before and during the riots, that almost paralyzed the operations in the capital, and the surrounding villages in the Buganda kingdom, and left close to 26 people dead.
“Unfortunately, we have postponed the civil protest because the police did not provide us with security. Instead they chose to act in uncivilized manner by deploying armed police and soldiers on the streets”, said Saraji Balinda, the opposition spokesperson of the coalition.
“It is difficult for us to walk on the streets with armed police personnel around us”, he added.
Balinda, however, told the NEWVISION that the opposition coalition intend to go on with its planned activities throughout the country.
He further disclosed that the IPC would be mobilizing workers in public and private sectors to carry out a sit-down strike in an attempt to push their demands through.
Besides the unconditional re-opening of the CBS Radio Station, and the establishment of a new and credible Electoral Commission, the IPC wants the government to implement a string of other electoral reforms.
Meanwhile reports reaching us say that Kampala City streets on Monday remained heavily guarded by both regular police patrol, and plain clothes, as well as the soldiers of the UPDF. There was heavy deployment of armed security in Busege roundabout, Gayaza Road, Queen’s Way and the Central Business District {CBD}. The deployment started last Sunday afternoon.
The police fire brigade, and dozens of policemen, ready in anti-riot combat gears, were visibly on stand-by around the Kampala Central Police Station. Anti riot water canon vehicle could be seen parked at the backyard of the Station, ready to mover into action, should the need arise.
“The last time they took us by surprise. We cannot let that happen again”, Police spokesperson Judith Babakooba was quoted as saying.
She was referring to the last September bloody riots, following the Kabaka of Buganda’s abortive trip to Kayunga district, that ignited rioting in Kampala, and in the villages inside Buganda region. The rioting left 26 people dead and thousands of property destroyed.
Wafula Ogutu, the spokesman of the opposition coalition FDC party, which is part of the opposition alliance, said they had called off the protest, but the group would continue to engage the government in order to have their issues addressed.
“We are giving them enough time to respond to our letter, in which we had sought for protection to carry out a peaceful demonstration”, he said.
“We will continue to dialogue with the government on electoral reforms, especially our concern with the current discredited and unreliable Electoral Commission. Emphasizing that the opposition coalition do not want to engage police in running street battles”.
Ogutu revealed that the letter was written on 30th December, and delivered on the same day to the police officer, Kale Kayihura.
The police, however, denied this claim, saying that Kayihura only received the letter on Monday, the very day of the planned street demonstration, and as such, it was not easy to come to a decision whether to allow the protest march or to ban it.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com