Police
in eastern Uganda's Kamuli Municipality had to fire in the air to
disperse an angry mob protesting against the prospects of removing the
presidential age limit from the constitution.
The
anti-age limit protesters, led by the Democratic Party [DP] National
Youth Chairman, Mr Moses Bigirwa, engaged the security agencies in a
battle that lasted at least three hours.
The
protesters, who assembled at Adams Road for a rally over what they
called ‘the critical need to protect the constitution’, marched to the
taxi park before being intercepted at the roundabout by police commanded
by the District Police Commander [DPC], Mr Collins Kyasimire.
The petition
“Defending
Article 102 (b) is protecting the Constitution. Defend the constitution
before it is too weak to protect you,” Mr Bigirwa shouted as he flagged
off the march meant to deliver his petition to the Speaker of
Parliament and Woman Member of Parliament, [MP], Ms Rebecca Kadaga.
Mr
Bigirwa hurled harsh words at the surging policemen and added that they
merely wanted to deliver the petition to their legislator, Ms Kadaga,
who doubles as the chairperson of the Busoga Caucus.
Related story: MP breaks ranks, seeks return of term limit
The Busoga North police spokesperson, Mr Michael Kasadha, denied using excessive force to disperse the demonstrators.
“With
an ambush of demonstrators who came from nowhere, the police was forced
to respond that way to disperse the illegal protest. It could be seen
as excessive force but it was commensurate with what they were trying to
do,” he said in defence of the gunfire that rocked the municipality for
close to three hours.
Seek permission
He
added that the police was provoked after their commander, the DPC, in
an attempt to talk to the demonstrators, was punched and shoved.
He
advised those with grievances and petitions to hand over or those
planning to demonstrate, protest, or hold a procession to seek
permission from the police so that they were protected ‘instead of just
waking up to hold the public at ransom’.
The protesters
vowed to hold another demonstration on Tuesday at Mbulamuti to
reportedly show Ms Kadaga that all was not well and that she should
therefore tread carefully.
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