The Joint Operations Command (JOC) has withdrawn military personnel who'd been deployed in the city centre to contain demonstrations over the detention of Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.
The personnel mainly from the Special Force Command (SFC), an elite force that guards the president, his family and VIPs and the Military Police were called in for reinforcement after supporters of Bobi Wine last week staged protests across the city over his continued incarceration and alleged torture whilst in detention.
Bobi was initially charged in an Army court in Gulu with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition and remanded to Makindye military barracks.
Since Monday, the army has been patrolling the streets in different parts of the town. They had also been deployed at various police stations. Yesterday, Friday, the soldiers were withdrawn from the city centre while those in the outskirts such as Najjera, Naalya, along Northern bypass, Busega, and Makindye were maintained.
Some of the soldiers withdrawn from the city centre were taken to reinforce those in the city outskirts. Those on standby in case of any chaos are stationed at Bwaise and Kalerwe roundabout, Kisekka market, and Makindye military police headquarters.
Soldiers were captured on camera randomly beating up journalists and innocent civilians during the protests in the city prompting the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen David Muhoozi to issue a public apology.
The police spokesperson Emilian Kayima says police and sister security agencies will continue to monitor the situation.
"We have intelligence that further riots might occur as some groups of boda-boda riders in and around Kampala are being mobilised. There are equally recorded messages on social media platforms that are mobilising people to engage in crime, spreading harmful propaganda, hate speech and other forms of crime," Kayima said.
The Police's Field Force Unit which is the specialised unit for crowds and riot control has also been put on standby at various strategic locations in Kampala and surrounding districts. The biggest manpower is at Naguru, Nsambya and at Constitutional Square.
Demonstrations over Bobi's arrest and alleged torture broke out allover the country and outside including in South Africa, Kenya, Canada, Tokyo, Norway among others. Various international artists and writers have also condemned his arrest.
On Thursday charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were dropped against the MP and he was freed only to be re-arrested within 52 seconds and charged in Magistrate's court with treason.
Earlier, at least 33 others including MPs were also charged with treason in the same court and remanded until August 30.
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