NUP Challenges Police Ban, insists that it will continue activities tomorrow

Summary:

• Police spokesperson Fred Enanga stated that NUP disregarded guidelines agreed upon with the police during their Masaka tour on Friday. Consequently, the police decided to suspend NUP activities. However, NUP strongly opposes what it calls the partisan and illegal statement by the police.

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KAMPALA: The National Unity Platform (NUP) party announced it will resume its nationwide consultation meetings on Tuesday, starting with a tour in Mityana despite a police order halting their activities.

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga stated that NUP disregarded guidelines agreed upon with the police during their Masaka tour on Friday. Consequently, the police decided to suspend NUP activities. However, NUP strongly opposes what it calls the partisan and illegal statement by the police.

“Finally, we have seen the police statement in which Mr. Fred Enanga yet again announced another illegal, blanket ban on our activities, as they have regularly done. While we undertake to enforce greater discipline and responsibility in our activities, we take strong exception to the partisan, illegal statement by the police. Regrettably, they continue to act in a clearly partisan manner,” NUP stated.

The statement added, “On Saturday, we saw activities, including processions, conducted by other political groups leaning toward the NRM. We have repeatedly asked why they continue to target NUP! We have seen many road accidents happen before or after events of other political groups. The police never issue blanket bans on their subsequent events. Police say the driver of the car which caused the accident fled the scene. We hope they will trace this person, conduct thorough investigations into the cause of the accident, and bring the culprits to justice instead of finding a convenient excuse to yet again halt our activities.”

The party expressed deepest condolences to the families of three Ugandans who perished in an accident around Maya on Friday during the Party President’s visit to Masaka. They have established from onlookers that the accident happened after their convoy had left the scene.

NUP challenged the police to conduct efficient, independent, and expeditious investigations to establish the cause of the accident. “In following our tradition, we have reached out to the families of those who lost their lives, some of whom were ardent supporters of NUP, and extended support to them,” NUP further stated.

The party said it is open to engaging with the leadership of the Uganda Police on any matter because they are law-abiding citizens.

“In the meantime, we have decided to postpone our scheduled activity in Mityana next week as we mourn with the bereaved families. We shall put out a new schedule in due course,” NUP said.