Police says the current siege on Rt. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye’s home is meant to stop him from holding illegal assemblies and processions which they say have potential to spark off riots, looting of shops as well as theft of personal property.
Security personnel last week lay siege around Dr Kiiza Besigye’s Kasangati home blocking him from proceeeding to the city in a protest against high commodity prices in the country. For 5 days now, police has maintained heavy deployment around Besigye’s home blocking everyone trying to access him.
“The use of illegal processions has a potential of massively disrupting the other rights of the community, through disruptions in the flow of traffic, breach of peace, looting of shops and road side market shops, mugging and theft of phones from bystanders and pedestrians, running battles with security personnel and provocative behaviour like burning of tyres etc.” Fred Enanga said during a press briefing on Monday.
Citing Section 5 of the Public Order Management Act (POMA), Enanga says police will not hesitate to disrupt and disperse any illegal assembly.
“We therefore, wish to remind the Rtd. Col. Dr. Kiiza Besigye, that Section 5 of the Public Order Management Act (POMA), is still in force and requires all organisers of public meetings to notify the IGP, at least 3 days but not more than 15 days before the proposed date of the meeting. The notice should indicate the date, time, location, size, purpose and other basic information which is justified, to ensure the smooth conduct of the assembly. It is therefore, unfortunate that he did not give any notice and thus contravened the provisions of the POMA.” He added.
Enanga says police shall continue using its powers and discretion in policing unlawful assemblies and territorial commanders have been tasked to remain vigilant and to use lawful and reasonable methods to disperse and disrupt unlawful assemblies.