Don’t dare demonstrate ahead of Museveni swearing in - Police to FDC

Police deputy spokesperson Polly Namaye said they have deployed security and intelligence personnel across the country to encumber any activities intended to disrupt the May 12th President Yoweri Museveni’s swearing in..

KAMPALA.

Anyone planning to participate in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) national wide defiance campaigns will taste the state wrath, police has warned.
Ms Polly Namaye, the Deputy Police spokesperson, said they have deployed security and intelligence personnel across the country to encumber any activities intended to disrupt the May 12th President Yoweri Museveni’s swearing in.
The warning comes days after former FDC presidential candidate Rtd Col Kizza Besigye vowed to defy the “political persecution” order that was issued by Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma banning any FDC defiance campaigns in the country.

FDC party president Maj gen Mugisha Muntu while presiding over a press conference on Monday also reiterated the party’s position regarding the order by Justice Kavuma. Mr Muntu said that nothing will stop their prayers across the country.
On Friday, Justice Kavuma issued an interim order discontinuing Dr Besigye and his opposition political party FDC from holding planned peaceful demonstrations at Nakivubo Blue primary school on May 5.
Justice Kavuma also ordered a stop to the party’s ‘Free My Vote’ Tuesday prayers that have been ongoing for close to two months, as well as prohibiting media houses from broadcasting or publishing any such message of the prayers.

“We don’t expect them (FDC) to defy the order. We have learnt about their unlawful mobilisation of people to engage in illegal demonstrations in Kisoro, Bunyoro, and Kampala among other places,” Ms Namaye said while addressing the media at a weekly national security briefing at police headquarters in Naguru on Monday.
She cautioned the youth against being used to participate in what she described as uncalled for assemblies and demonstrations intended to cause havoc in the country.

Asked whether FDC prayers were also regarded as illegal and defiant assemblies, Ms Namaye maintained that whatever was mentioned in the High Court order is regarded as unlawful gathering.
President Museveni on Sunday vowed to deal with whoever intends to demonstrate against his February 18 victory, saying he will not allow any opposition forces to destabilise the country. He was speaking at the National Labour Day celebrations at Duhaga grounds in Hoima District.
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