A “protestor” jumps over a fire during mock demonstrations at a police drill outside Mandela National Stadium in Wakiso District yesterday. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA 

Wakiso

Two opposition Members of Parliament have promised to back the police request for more funding. MP Odonga Otto (FDC Aruu County) promised to be an ambassador of the police in Parliament, especially to push the Force’s opinion of the Public Order Management Bill. Police wants organisers of public gatherings to seek for permission from the Force.

While MP Elijah Okupa (FDC Kasilo County) promised to push for funds to buy at least six helicopters for the Force. Both MPs made the promise at the closure of the 15th council for the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation (EAPCCO) aimed at combating terrorism at Mandela National Stadium in Wakiso District.

The EAPCCO comprises of 12 countries including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Eritrea, Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Comoros, Seychelles, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.
After watching a police training exercise in which a politician was kidnapped by terrorists after shooting several demonstrators, MP Odonga said the debate in Parliament on Public Order Management Bill should be halted until all lawmakers have been taken through challenges protestors face during demonstrations.

The Bill
The Public Order Management Bill has sections that make it a requirement for organisers of a
public meeting to seek police permission. But most opposition members insist that the Bill runs contrary to Article 92 of the Constitution which prohibits the enactment of laws intended to reverse court rulings.
MP Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala County) won a 2005 petition in the Constitutional Court which determined that Section 32 of the Police Act, that had granted the police chief sweeping powers over public rallies, was unconstitutional.

Most members of the opposition are opposed to the Bill saying it limits the inherit rights of assembly, and it is also unconstitutional. MP Odonga said: “I want to appoint myself as an ambassador of the police in Parliament”. MP Okupa, who grew up in police barracks, said he will rally his colleagues not to pass the police budget if there are no funds for helicopters.

“Police aviation should have been a thing of yesterday. We were embarrassed when we had an accident in western Uganda and we couldn’t transport the victims to hospital. But Rwanda sent helicopters in Uganda to transport the patients,” MP Okupa said.
He said all parties should rally behind the police to fight terrorism since terrorists do not discriminate between a supporter of FDC, National Resistance Movement or Democratic Party.

The Internal Affairs Minister, Mr. Hillary Onek, asked the regional police to unite and have the same cause if they are stand the modern challenges.

abagala@ug.nationmedia.com