By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
KAMPALA
Police working on the orders of Obongi District Police Commander (DPC) SP Graciano Nkurunziza have blocked a meeting of opposition leaders from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) on Thursday morning.
According to reports, armed police officers sealed off the Obongi Resource Centre, where the meeting was taking place, and prevented attendees from entering.
The meeting, led by FDC Deputy President Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, aimed to prepare for a series of mobilization activities in the West Nile sub-region.
FDC will hold a mobilization rally and online registration for new members in the West Nile effective July 13th 2024, and party leaders will address the rally in Arua City.
Despite prior notification to police headquarters and a successful meeting with the Regional Police Commander (RPC), the police moved to disrupt the gathering. This move is seen as a tactic to suppress FDC’s ability to mobilize and exercise their democratic rights in West Nile.
The FDC has condemned the incident as a violation of their constitutional rights to assemble and mobilize.
“We call on the police to respect our democratic rights and will not be deterred by such acts of intimidation,” said a statement from the party.
This is not the first time opposition leaders have faced harassment and intimidation from police and the military while conducting nationwide mobilization campaigns. On several occasions, security has interfered with the activities of the opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine – the president of National Unity Platform sometimes using excessive force such as pepper spraying, firing of bullets to disperse NUP supporters and brutal arrests which have resulted into lifetime injuries, death and unlawful arrests of innocent Ugandans.
The Obongi incident has sparked concerns about the state of political freedom in Uganda, with many calling on the government to respect the rights of opposition parties.
Nevertheless, the FDC has vowed to continue exercising their democratic rights despite the challenges.
