Uganda Police Force and the military have deployed additional personnel in Kampala, marking what officials describe as a precautionary measure ahead of the Anti-corruption March to Parliament on July 23. 

Police Spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke provided insights into the reasons behind the increased deployments.

“We shall not hide the truth that we have deployed extraordinarily because we have a concern over security,” stated ACP Rusoke during a media briefing in Kampala on Monday.  

“Whenever we get reliable intelligence that certain activities are likely to subvert order, we heighten our deployments. So today we did the same.” 

The military personnel were deployed in strategic positions across Kampala metropolitan. 

These include social places, roundabouts and government buildings.

Armoured vehicles continue to patrol various hotspots across Kampala including downtown Kampala.

The heightened security measures come in light of a press conference called by the National Unity Platform (NUP) at Kavule. 

Given the expected large turnout in the crowded area of Kavule, the police said it deemed it necessary to take proactive measures. 

“Now, if you are going to call all the supporters of NUP in a small plot of land in crowded Kavule, what do you expect us to do? We certainly have to heighten measures. We have to take concern for the rights of others,” said ACP Rusoke.

“The longer you fail to recognize the rights of others, the longer it will take you to enjoy your own. You really need to balance the equation. You need to understand that you do not have absolute rights. You need to factor in other people. You need to factor in other interests.”

Legal experts say police should allow minimal disruption to public order for activists to express themselves through demonstrations, a position police have rejected.

The youth say they want to express themselves against deeply entrenched corruption in government that undermines public service delivery.

ACP Rusoke also highlighted that the NUP has held numerous press conferences in the past without police disruption. 

“They have been going on, how come that we have not been disrupting them? You see, you need to understand to what extent the people crying victim are playing games of aggression.”

The NUP leader, Robert Kyagulanyi noted that the state is trying to tie tomorrow’s demonstration to his party in order to make it appear a partisan political agenda. 

“The effort by the regime to clamp down and make it look like an NUP initiative is meant to weaken it because they want to make it appear like a partisan matter,” he noted.

By Chimpreports