Police insist ban on protests stands despite court ruling

The Uganda Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga has reiterated that they are still mandated to prohibit illegal gatherings despite a Friday landmark ruling that annulled sections 5 and 10 of the Public Order Management Act 2013.

Speaking to media at the weekly security pressers at Naguru headquarters yesterday, Enanga said that whereas the Constitutional court nullified some provisions in the POMA, it is still mandatory to inform and seek police permission for security reasons before engaging in gatherings.

“Individuals and political groups should know that although it’s a fundamental right to peaceful assembly, they also have a duty to inform the police as of the requirement of section 5,” Enanga said.

He adds that police will continue to disperse unauthorized political gatherings for as long as they are not sanctioned by the office of the IGP.

A Friday Court ruling held that sections 5 and 10 of POMA, to the extent that they impose sanctions on organizers and participants in peaceful public gatherings, including demonstrations and assemblies, contravene the Constitution and therefore, null and void.

NUP supporters have in recent days emcountered resistance from security agencies that routinely thwart any of their peaceful demonstrations.