Police’s management has halted consultative rallies by Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s main opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), the law and order agency’s spokesperson Fred Enanga has announced.
Communicating on the night of May 31, 2024 following a rally in Masaka, Enanga attributed the decision to suspend the consultative activities on an accident that claimed three lives and left an unspecified number injured.
According to the police spokesperson, those who sustained injuries from the 10am accident at St Lawrence College, Maya, along Kampala Masaka Highway, “were taken to medical facilities yet to be identified by police.”
He blamed the fatal accident on the recklessness by the drivers of vehicles said to have been part of the NUP motorcade.
“The accident involved 02 motor vehicles and 04 motor cycles which were part of a motorcade in a procession of National Unity Platform (NUP) Leaders heading to Masaka for consultative activities,” said Enanga.
“The loss of the innocent lives was a result of recklessness of the drivers and riders who were driving in excess speed without regard to other road users.”
Enanga accused Bobi Wine’s NUP of flouting guidelines agreed on days ago.
“Whereas Police Leadership met with the National Unity Platform Leadership at Police Headquarters on the 27.05.2024, and agreed on how to conduct their consultative meetings, NUP have disregarded the agreed position and continue to act with impunity as demonstrated in today’s unfortunate incident at Maya,” wrote Enanga.
“As the government Agency mandated to protect life and property, keep law and order, the police management has decided to halt any further consultative activities of NUP as a party with immediate effect until this matter is conclusively investigated and resolved.”
It was not clear if there was a roadmap for NUP and police to discuss the matter.
RESOLUTIONS FROM POLICE-NUP MEETING ON MAY 27, 2024
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The NUP Leadership should, in all their notifications, write officially to the IGP early enough as per the law to allow UPF management to reply in time and copy their letters to the Territorial Commanders.
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The District Security Committee shall carry out an assessment of security at the venue, environs, and the route that the NUP members intend to use before the meetings. The committee will work together with the Liaison Officer of NUP to agree on an appropriate venue where Police can effectively provide security. The assessment will be in coordination with town clerks who always grant permission for venue usage.
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The NUP Leadership will provide a liaison officer whose role will be to coordinate with Police Headquarters and Unit Commanders regarding preparations for holding their activities and following up on security concerns from the party.
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The meeting urged NUP Leadership to prevail over their members who wear military insignia, as these acts contravene the law. Persons found culpable shall be dealt with individually.
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Regarding the alleged confiscated NUP items by security, it was agreed that a follow-up will be made by the Director of Operations, and communication will be made later.
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Regarding NUP members arrested for acts contravening the law, the meeting agreed that the NUP Liaison Officer should always contact Police for follow up.
