KAMPALA-Uganda Law Society (ULS) has expressed concern about the rate at which Uganda Police is interfering with the rights citizens rights to peacefully assemble and demonstrate.
Police officers after arresting one of the FDC members who were marching to Kenya High Commission in Kololo on Monday (Courtesy photo)
In a press statement issued on Monday Benard Oundo, the Uganda Law Society President pointed for the last few days, the Police basing on an outlawed sections of Public Order Management Act 2013 has supressed a number of peaceful demonstrations which is against the constitution of the Republic of Uganda.
“ULS advises the general public as well as the Uganda Police Force that the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 guarantees to all persons the right to assemble and demonstrate together with others peacefully and unarmed’ as well as the right to freedom of speech and expression as per Article 29(1) (d) respectively. These fundamental rights are essential to every free and democratic society.”
That these decisions have been upheld in various decisions by the Constitutional and Supreme Courts of Uganda.
“These rights are inherent and are not granted or merely permitted by the State or the Police. The Police therefore does not have the authority to question or determine whether a peaceful demonstration is called for or not. The Police on the other hand has a duty to ensure that protests or demonstrations are held peacefully.”
ULS has further cautioned the Police against its continuous reliance on various provisions of the Public Order Management Act, 2013 that have since been held by the Courts of Law to be unconstitutional, unlawful, null and void for unreasonably limiting the people’s right to assemble and demonstrate.
Therefore, Oundo has condemned the continuous arbitrary interference of the Police with peaceful and unarmed demonstrations, urging Government and Police to respect and protect the rights of all persons to assemble and peacefully demonstrate.
Secondly called upon the Uganda Police to investigate and hold accountable all officers who continue to arbitrarily curtail the rights of all persons to assemble and Peacefully demonstrate.
“ULS advises the public that the right of all persons to assemble and peacefully demonstrate is guaranteed by the Constitution of Uganda; appeals to the general public to desist from violent demonstrations and attacks on law enforcement officers and hereby gives Police Officers fair warning that the ULS will take legal action against them in their personal capacities if they are found to have deliberately violated the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens and other persons.”
He further assured citizens that ULS remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting the rule of law, human rights and good governance in Uganda.
Last week, medical interns who had gone to Ministry of Health Headquarters chanting ‘deploy us’ with a view of seeking Ministry’s intervention in a number of their grievances, were blocked and other arrested, On Monday several FDC members (Katonga Faction) were arrested by the Uganda Police Force as they marched to the Kenya High Commission to deliver a protest note concerning the arrest of their 36 members in Kenya. On top of that Journalists who were covering the event were also manhandled by the Uganda Police force.
