KAMPALA, Uganda  — The Uganda Police Force (UPF) on Monday blocked the scheduled launch of the “Youth Protest Vote,” an initiative organized by the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP).
The event had been planned to take place Monday, April 28, at the NUP headquarters in Makerere Kavule, a Kampala suburb.
In a statement released earlier Monday, police said they were aware of the planned activity and issued a warning that it would not be permitted to proceed.
Authorities stated the decision was made “in the interest of maintaining public order” and cautioned individuals and groups against participating in or facilitating any related events.
“The proposed launch, along with any associated activities, will not be permitted,” police said in the statement. “We urge all parties to comply with this directive.”
The “Youth Protest Vote” campaign was intended to mobilize young Ugandans ahead of future elections, with NUP officials describing it as a peaceful means to encourage political participation among youth.
Following the police directive, the future of the NUP initiative remains uncertain.
As of late Monday morning, the National Unity Platform had not yet issued an official response to the police ban.
