“Bobi Wine – We Are Ready To Crush Your Violence & Sectarianism” Uganda Police Warns

Maj Gen Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Uganda, has said in a statement that the Uganda Police Force and other security agencies are fully prepared to deal with any potential violence associated with the National Unity Platform (NUP) and its leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, and his supporters.

In his Statement released on Wednesday, Gen Katsigazi suspended all NUP activities and stressed the requirement for proactive measures to safeguard citizens and property, as opposed to trusting that towns and urban communities will crumble into disorder prior to answering. He underlined the security powers’ assurance to uphold law and order, working intimately with applicable partners, and guaranteed that they would answer unequivocally to any type of impelling to brutality that could grow into common agitation inside the country.

“We are very robust plans to uphold the rule of law, in liaison with other stakeholders, and will respond appropriately, against all perpetrators of incitement to violence, that can lead to civil unrest throughout the country,” Gen Katsigazi said

Bobi Wine and members of the NUP have been conducting nationwide tours to rally support and establish party offices, with the police and military providing security for these events. Gen Katsigazi contended that Bobi Wine and the NUP have repeatedly violated the guidelines established for their activities.

These guidelines include the requirement to provide proof of venue owner permission, conduct gatherings in enclosed spaces, refrain from holding processions and demonstrations, and adhere to regulations related to public order management He refered to episodes, for example, the supposed vandalism of a vehicle by NUP allies in Mbarara and a deadly car accident in Hoima City as instances of the outcomes coming about because of these breaks.

He refered to instances of a Toyota Hiace UBD 251J which was supposedly vandalized by unruly NUP allies in Mbarara, and car crashes incorporating a deadly one in Hoima City, on Monday this week, which killed Norman Mugisa and left 10 others harmed.

“In view of the above blatant breaches of the guidelines, the activities of the NUP are immediately suspended. This announcement is a follow-up, to our communication of 12.09.2023, to the NUP leadership, halting the planned mobilization activities and opening of offices, until such a time that they are ready to comply with the guidelines and rule of law,” Gen Katsigazi said.

NUP’s spokesperson, Joel Ssenyonyi, issued a response, stating that they had already concluded the final rally of their initial phase of mobilization activities. He further mentioned their intention to inform the police of their plans to resume activities in about two weeks, following meetings with the party’s diaspora supporters.