Police round up NUP supporters in Kamuli

By Priscilla Nakayenze

The National Unity Platform (NUP) headed for Kamuli Wednesday morning in what looked like a confrontation date with Police.

And they got exactly that, according to the party principal Mr Robert Kyagulanyi.

"The cowardly regime has deployed the police and military at the venue where we are meant to meet with our people," Mr Kyagulanyi posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"They have so far arrested over 20 comrades, including part of our advance team and some journalists. They are being held at Kamuli Central Police Station."

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga told the Nile Post on Wednesday morning that NUP had not notified them of their planned mobilisation rallies in Kamuli.

However, Mr Kyayulanyi appeared to suggest otherwise, saying they had notified the police and "fulfilled every lawful requirement".

NUP last week released an itinerary for a countrywide consultative mobilisation campaign, with Kamuli District as their starting point before canvassing Bugweri, Tororo, Pallisa, among others.

However, police had almost immediately ordered that the leading Opposition party had to comply with certain guidelines set last year when police banned NUP's Kunga campaigns for allegedly flouting several guidelines issued by police.

Mr Enanga said at Monday's media briefing that the suspension from last year was still in effect and that it would continue until NUP leadership complies with police guidelines and becomes law-abiding.

“The activity should be carried out in a law and order environment without rallies, campaigns and any recourse to processions and demonstrations," he said.

But NUP would take none of it.

“We shall flag off our nationwide tour in Kamuli regardless of what police has put in place,” Mr  Francis Zaake, the Mityana Municipality MP, said.

The party's advance team and members in Kamuli found the Police parked at the venue of their planned rally Wednesday morning, with Mr Kyagulanyi condemning the regime's deployment of police and military.

"They have immediately started frustrating our events," he said.

Other Opposition parties such as the Alliance for National Transformation led by Major-General Mugisha Muntu, Democratic Party and Forum for Democratic Change-Najjanankumbi under Patrick Amuriat, have freely gone on consultative tours around the country.

The FDC-Katonga faction also canvassed the country last month as Dr Kizza Besigye and his group drummed up opinions ahead of their plan to launch a new political party.