“It is hypocritical for IGP Byakagaba to say it is in contravention of the law for the NUP, and in order for the NRM to hold processions to the extent of using police vehicles to ferry supporters,” he argued.
The Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LOP) Joel Ssenyonyi has taken a swipe against recent comments by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abbas Byakagaba in reaction to complaints of police overtures in dealing with supporters of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, including spraying them with pepper, tear gas, flogging, setting police dogs on them and many other inhuman forms of treatment in the name of bringing them to order.
In a press conference addressed by Byakagaba a day earlier, the police boss told journalists that whatever punishment was meted out to the NUP supporters was justified and in conformity with the law as far as subduing people in illegal gatherings.
Byakagaba had blamed Kyagulanyi for allegedly making processions camouflaged as campaigns, thus inciting police to react as they always do to disperse them.
In a presentation on the floor of parliament yesterday, Ssenyonyi blamed the IGP for twisting the law to suit the NRM convenience, arguing that the ruling party is on record for holding processions to the extent of using police trucks to ferry supporters to venues due to be addressed by the party candidate President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
He cited the Monday incident where he alleged that while campaigning in Mbarara and Rwampara districts, candidate Museveni’s supporters were ferried on a police truck to Boma Grounds, with a brass band in the lead during their procession.
“It is hypocritical for IGP Byakagaba to say it is in contravention of the law for the NUP, and in order for the NRM to hold processions to the extent of using police vehicles to ferry supporters,” he argued.
He questioned the criterion used to judge the legality or illegality of meetings depending on which side is holding them, to the extent that those judged to be illegal deserve mean punishment like being shot dead, treated to tear gas showers and setting dogs on them.
Complaining further, Ssenyonyi cited the recent directive by the EC chairman Justice Simon Byamukama telling voters to cast their votes and leave the polling stations, and leave police to handle the security of their votes.
He asked, “How are we expected to trust such double standard police to protect our votes?”
Addressing parliament speaker, the LOP asked IGP Byakagaba to clearly explain to the nation what is legal for the NRM and illegal for NUP and the opposition in general.
The Katikkiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga last week urged security agencies to exercise professionalism, restraint, and strict respect for constitutional rights during the ongoing election campaigns, warning that recent policing methods pose a threat to democratic practice.
In a statement shared on his social media platforms, Mayiga criticised the deployment of police dogs at political rallies, describing the move as an unnecessary escalation of force that undermines public trust.
He argued that campaign events naturally attract large, energetic crowds and should not be treated as criminal scenes.
“It is unrealistic to ban processions of supporters. Political rallies are not prayer meetings to which worshippers go calmly,” he said.
“With Uganda’s public transport and bodabodas, it is unrealistic to expect supporters to move to campaign venues quietly. Ensure supporters don’t harm others, but let them be.”
Mayiga stressed that maintaining public order must never come at the cost of citizens’ dignity or their constitutionally protected freedoms.
The Katikkiro reaffirmed that the right to peaceful assembly is protected by the Constitution and insisted that security agencies must operate as neutral enforcers of public safety, not tools of political intimidation.
“Once again, I urge police and security agencies to keep law and order in a non-violent and non-partisan manner during this campaign period,” he said.
