Police have warned the opposition against mobilising the populace to stage anti-Museveni protests. According to a police statement, opposition politicians are planning nationwide demonstrations starting with the Kampala Metropolitan area to contest President Yoweri Museveni's election victory. Museveni was declared by the Electoral Commission as the winner of the highly volatile and controversial January 14 elections.
Police claim the organizers of what they called illegal demonstrations, are mobilizing the public using social media and leaflets with wordings that reads "Time is now. Join nationwide protests to fight for our victory. M7 Tajja Kulayira [Museveni will not be allowed to swear in]," the statement reads in part.
Kampala Metropolitan deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire says that they have finished laying down all strategies to counter any planned protests.
"We have deployed heavily to counter these illegal acts and we are continuing with vigilance. We want to warn the organizers of these unlawful demonstrations to desist from participating in any unlawful activities," says Owoyesigyire.
Owoyesigyire further added that the police will not hesitate to arrest and charge in courts of law anyone, who will be found participating in these illegal activities.
"We have deployed strategically to counter these illegal acts and we're continuing with vigilance. We want to warn the organizers of these unlawful demonstrations to desist from participating in any unlawful activities. Those who want to convey any message should use the known channels, the legal channels to convey any message they want other than engaging the public in any illegal activities," said Owoyesigyire.
This is the second time security agencies are coming out to warn against the anticipated violence to show dissatisfaction of the January 14 presidential and parliament elections.
In last year's November 18 and 19 protests that engulfed the entire country, at least 54 people were killed and more than 1,500 arrested. Security has continued to hunt down and kidnap opposition supporters, with Museveni saying last week that some of those arrested have revealed to the government the schemes of their leaders in trying to destabilise the country. He promised to unconditionally release at least 51 youth currently in military detention and secure a soft landing for others in courts of law. However, gruesome stories of torture have also been relayed by those who managed to secure their freedom from custody.
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