Stick to the law, I will play my part-Gen Tumukunde warns police

Former Security Minister, Lt. Gen. Henry Tumukunde has interfaced with the Deputy commandant of Operations in Uganda Police Senior Commissioner John Nuwagira over his upcoming consultation across the country

“I didn’t meet the Inspector General of Police and his deputy. I also didn’t find the commandant of Operations but I met his deputy with whom we have had wonderful discussions. And I am told his is the person who handles political issues. He has indicated they will reply me by Thursday” Gen. Tumukunde said. He was escorted to police by one of his lawyers Alex Luganda and Tororo North Member of Parliament, Annet Nyakecho.

While addressing the press shortly after the meeting, said given the reception he received at police, police conduct had improved. When asked whether he is prepared for ‘ill treatment’ like other opposition politicians of being bundled on pickups and beaten, Gen. Tumukunde said, It is up to the police to reflect and show whether as political actor, they deserve the treatment. “I hope they (police) have seen what happened in Sudan and what is happening the people who were in authority yesterday. I was in the security service and I know how we behave and how we suffer under the command of instructions but it is upon individual commanders to weigh such commands” He added “I hope police will stick to the law as I play my part”

Gen. Tumukunde in his letter to IPG, said that on Tuesday March 3, 2020, he  served the Electoral Commission with a notice of his intention to carry out consultation in line with the provision of section 3 of the Presidential Elections Act 2005. He says while the same law is silent on whether a candidate requires permission from the Public Order Management Act, in Part II Section 3 that gives police powers to regulate the conduct of all public meeting,  and Section 4 defines what is/not considered a public meeting. “In view of the above, and as a law abiding citizen, I am seeking that i be furnished from your office with the guidelines I and my team need to follow during those consultations. We intend to move across the country, and the detailed programme will be submitted to your office as soon as we receive the guidelines” Reads the letter.