By Editorial Team

27^th Sept 2010

The proposed Public Order Management Bill has caused considerable anxiety among Ugandans and especially those within opposition circles.  Human rights organisations have also attacked the government for trying to enact a law that limits civil liberties even further.

In Muwanga Kivumbi Vs the Attorney General of Uganda, the Constitutional Court ruled that section 32 of the Police Act “…unjustifiably limited the rights to freedoms of assembly and association prescribed in the Ugandan Constitution”. The Court further held that the section gave the Inspector General of Police “prohibitive” rather than “regulatory” powers.  

Now, Metropolitan Police chief Andrew Sorowen, citing the threat of terrorism, has issued guidelines banning all gatherings involving more than five people unless they sanctioned by the Inspector General of Police.

Other critics have argued that the proposed Public Order Management Bill as well as Sorowen’s guidelines are intended to violate Article 92 of the Constitution which prohibits Parliament from passing any law “… to alter the decision or judgement of any court as between the parties to the decision or judgement”.

As a publication, we would like offer our unqualified support to both the Constitutional Court and the human rights activists who have called into serious question the true motives behind this latest Bill that Kayihura and his men are trying to introduce.

We now have great sympathy with Kampala Central MP Erias Lukwago who, when reacting to news that Ugandans will now have to seek permission from the Kayihura for every gathering, said “…this is their long time desire to make Uganda a police state by allocating [the IGP] powers over weddings and funerals”.

Coming as it does in the run up to the 2011 general elections, we think the time has now come for all Ugandans to stand up and use all civil means to resist Kayihura’s latest assault on our fundamental democratic freedoms.  Legal court challenges would be a good start!

As constitutional Lawyer Peter Walubiri indeed said, “…security is being used as a cover to suppress opposition activities during the elections”. As UPC President Dr. Olara Otunnu said recently, as a Ugandans, we must say enough is enough and mean it for once.  END.  If it’s Monday, it’s Uganda Correspondent.  Never miss out again!