Govt now bans A4C group
A4C national coordinator Mathias Mpuuga has been the brain behind several opposition protests. Photo by Isaac Kasamani.
The government has moved to criminalise activities of opposition pressure group Activists for Change, Daily Monitor has learnt.
Attorney General Mr Peter Nyombi has this Wednesday morning invoked Section 56 of the Penal Code Act to issue a statutory instrument that declares A4C as “an unlawful society” rendering the group’s activities illegal.
“Its membership is banned, and if they try to form any other group, it will also be deemed as unlawful,” the AG says in the instrument.
A4C, whose national coordinator is the Independent opposition leaning MP Mathias Mpuuga has been the brain behind several opposition protests, dubbed Walk-to-Work, in the aftermath of the 2011 general elections.
The AG’s action comes a day after the activists had announced a major rally at Kololo Independence Grounds named “International Day against Police Brutality”.
Mr Mpuuga said the activists would show a one hour film documenting police brutality against the opposition at the rally.
Last week, the Inspector General of Police, Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura issued eight tough guidelines for demonstrations during the Inter-Parliamentary Union assembly ongoing in Kampala, one of which was banning demonstration participants riding motorcycles from parking at Kololo Independence Grounds. He also restricted all demonstrations to the grounds, which have all along been denied the activists.
The statutory instrument
Power conferred to the Attorney General Section 56 (2) (C) in the Penal Code order. The fourth day of April, 2012. Declaration of unlawful societies any society specified in the schedule. This order is to declare to a society dangerous to the peace and order in Uganda. Activists for Change.
Attorney General Peter Nyombi signed.
-Details of this story to follow
