Police, activists strike deal on civil protests

Fighting corruption. The groups agreed that content in the activists’ bulletins would be toned down and no politicians would be allowed to join the campaign processions.

Police and activists spearheading the Black Monday Movement yesterday agreed on guidelines to be followed in the civil-society-led campaign.

The campaign, which preaches against corruption, will also see the activists tone down the content of their Black Monday news bulletin.
Police, led by the deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr Okoth Ochola, met activists including Mr Richard Ssewakiryanga, the executive director of the NGO Forum and Ms Cissy Kagaba, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition -Uganda, in a closed-door session at the police headquarters in Kampala.

The meeting followed the arrest of six activists, including rtd Bishop Zac Niringiye, who was allegedly found distributing flyers at Makerere University.

Police broke up the launch of the movement last year while eight activists were last month arrested circulating the flyers in churches.

The activists and police also agreed that the [Black Monday] newspaper be “legalised and must have a legal status.”
Police also demanded that the content and language in the newspaper “which is in our view inciting should be re-packaged.”

However, according to police, the activists will “continue with their activities in a constructive and responsible manner.”
Mr Ochola also revealed that the police spokesperson, Ms Judith Nabakoba and Mr Sewakiryanga would liaise between the Force and the activists.

According to Mr Ochola, the requirements will be reviewed on a fortnight basis, although no deadline was set for the activists.
He added: “Anyone fighting corruption is complementing police work but the problem has been the method.”

He insisted that charges against Bishop Niringiye would stand, pending “legal opinion from the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

Reported by Solomon Arinaitwe, Angella Nalwanga & Stephen Otage