UGANDA 2014: A TROUBLED POLICE STATE...IN DENIAL. Posted: Today 2:05 am
Summary: Police is supposed to guarantee Ugandans right to peacefully protest. They are even supposed to protect protesters. SHARE It is rare to see any public protests these days. Reason being they have been mostly disallowed under the Public Order Management Law. A new law where protesters need to obtain prior authorization from an already biaised Uganda Police Force that unsurprisingly denies all opposition requests for fear of an irreversible uprising. While the right to protest is guaranteed by law, police contend that they have the duty to see that protests do not degenerate into violence and vandalism. Hence why they have to approve/disapprove any public rallies after a written notice has been submitted days in advance and a security assessment conducted. This makes it all look professional without political undertones, right? The reality is that when government, including the police, want to have a procession in the central business district, they simply go ahead. But opposition rallies are always disallowed. Yet police is supposed to guarantee Ugandans right to peacefully protest. They are even supposed to protect protesters. In the US recently, squad cars and police vans full of officers are seen slowly following processions as announcements are made over a police loudspeaker, informing protesters that police are there for their protection and that their right to demonstrate is being respected. They also warn that any vandalism or violence would lead to a citation or arrest. It is possible to assume that maybe Uganda Police isn't well trained on how to handle protests the right way. Indeed all such events tend to culminate in live gun fire, teargas, water canons and some dead or injured. But we surely can recall the Walk-To-Work protests when opposition politicians were picked up by police as they walked peacefully to town. Besides Retired Col. Kizza Besigye who attracted a huge crowd, all other politicians had been walking easily to their work places. Retired Major-General Mugisha Muntu made it peacefully to town, walking from his residence in the upmarket Kololo suburb without much ado except a few journalists. We saw Hon. Beatrice Anywar in jeans and sports shoes being picked by police as she walked alone along Entebbe road. But what shows that police commanders aren't to blame was the successful walk by Olara Otunnu. He was actually properly escorted by police upto his office at Uganda house. This last example alone shows that the police actually knows what they are supposed to do during protests. But Lo and behold! The officer in charge got reprimanded for that. Then we saw poor Museveni appear on TV news ordering that protesters should be either confined at home or arrested immediately they come out of their premises. That's why I say police aren't always to blame. Because from that day on started the now common house arrest technique at opposition leaders houses whenever there is a planned protest. That has led to interesting cat and mouse games as opposition members such as Kizza Besigye, Ingrid Turinawe and Ken Lukyamuzi display simple covert operations skills that allowed them to outmanoeuvre police guards and head to town. So as we talk about police militarization and their increased involvement in partisan politics, the source of their errors is clear. They are under direct Museveni orders that they are obliged to follow or face the grave consequences. In their strife to survive, police has resorted to primarily getting involved in actions that display their loyalty to the regime rather than follow their job descriptions that require them to serve Uganda. That is the case for Ministers, Resident District Commissioners and Councillors as well. Institution building is the first bitter casualty here, followed by freedom of expression. Only what pleases Museveni is allowed to be? How backward has this country gone? He used to make an effort to display some tolerance back in the late 1990's. So is this the onset of senility? Is Museveni mentally back in the 1980's bush wars while physically in 2014 Uganda? When the voices of reason can't speak, and an emerging, young opportunistic leadership replaces them, the future is increasingly guaranteed to contain serious political upheavals and conflict. That is what is happening with government cadres increasingly from a younger generation that strives to impress with unfettered loyalty rather than work outstandingly for the country. People will always be concerned about their income, promotions, future and that of their families. But what cronyism does is turn this basic human need into a support structure for a clinging Museveni rather than one that builds a nation. A personality cult becomes more visible by the day and idolatry makes its way into government functions and operations. That is why we see cadres kneeling and praising an individual while others organize unsollicited events that display their loyalty to the supreme leader. Officials and MP's pay reporters to publish news items where they declare submission as if to a godly being. Technocrats and well trained administrators have no place talking professionally in such an environment. Those that find themselves there, are quickly shackled, learn to shut up and thereby loose all their previous brilliance and skills in order to tow the political line in peace. I see that in Keith Muhakanizi (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance) and Tumusiime Mutebile (Governor Bank of Uganda). Andrew Mwenda (a formerly brilliant journalist turned entrepreneur and perturbed power-broker) tries to shine, but their is something akin to a broken record in his tirades today, compared to the sparkle of honesty he had previously. Remember when Former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi was best at explaining away opposition grievances against government in a most casual and diplomatic way? Well that is definitely lost as well. For many within, silence is the key to survival. The Mukula's and Muhwezi's are clinging and hoping for a probable comeback. Others are fearful of being thrown to the streets at any time. That is probably why we don't here State Minister Amelia Kyambadde, nor the other lady pretending to be some Aida Nantaba. (by the way, when will she be prosecuted for becoming a minister under a false name & documents? I thought false pretence was a punishable crime). But what is clear is that caution has replaced flamboyance and arrogance. Unity is also increasingly distant, while the number of internally disgruntled persons (IDP's) is on an irreparable rise. So we can smear our country with cosmetic freedom of expression or some human rights lipstick, but Uganda is a troubled police state in denial. -- The writer is an independent politician. _______________________________________________ WestNileNet mailing list WestNileNet@kym.net http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. _______________________________________________
