People’s Government vows to defy ban on political meetings in homes

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  | The People’s Government has vowed to defy police ban on political gatherings in homes.

On Monday, district and Division Police Commanders –DPCs were directed to disband all political meetings in private homes.

Police Spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said police had noticed a continuous violation of the Public Order Management Act –POMA where politicians hold illegal political meetings in their respective homes or those of their allies.

Addressing the press at their offices on Wednesday, the Vice President of the People’s Government Erias Lukwago described the ban as ridiculous, and an insult to people’s intelligence.

He says they will hold meetings in homes and in public places during their upcoming meetings across the country.

Lukwago says that police has no mandate to direct on meetings in private homes.

According to POMA, public meetings mean a gatherings, assembly, procession or demonstration in a public places or premises held for the purpose of discussing, acting upon, petitioning or expressing view on a matter of public interest.

Lukwago says that police is misusing POMA to abuse people’s inherent fundamental rights and freedoms adding that they are ready to fight for their rights and those of Ugandans.

Opposition political parties have come out since POMA was passed to challenge how police uses it against their activities.

Civil Society Organizations have also come up asking court to interpret the law to establish among others its constitutionality. They also say conditions that police sets for those intending to hold public meetings are unrealistic.

Mukono Municipality Member of Parliament Betty Nambooze also spokesperson of People’s Government says they will conduct their activities but only adhere to POMA where it is applicable.

Nambooze says that they the opposition should be left to conduct consultations in whichever method they choose.

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