Today, we were supposed to mark the 4th anniversary of our existence as the National Unity Platform Party since our rebranding from the NURP.
We however woke up to a heavy military and police presence around our party headquarters. The police did not write to us to justify their actions of blocking our press conference.
Several of our leaders and comrades who tried to access the party headquarters were brutally arrested, notably our Deputy President for Northern Dr. Lina Zedriga Waru, Youth Wing leader, Mityana Municipality MP Zaake Francis, Baale County MP Charles Tebandeke, Katikamu South MP Hassan Kirumira, and several comrades.
The regime has been attempting to paint a picture that the partyless March2Parliament is being organized and encouraged by us. The President has disregarded this in a press briefing he held today at his residence in Magere, Wakiso District, where he said,
“I support the young people 100% and am glad to see them leading from the front. Don’t be surprised if you see me there with you. I didn’t organize this protest, but both I and the party support it.”
The Arrests:
The Police towed away Hon. Zaake in his vehicle and took him to CPS and his contacts have since gone off and we can’t ascertain the condition in which he is.
Dr. Zedriga was briefly arrested after a scuffle and later released by Wandegeya DPC Hassan Hiwumbire
Hon. Charles Tebandeke was dragged into a security drone.
Hon. Hassan Kirumira was also dragged and thrown under the police seats of a patrol truck.
Several other comrades who were watching from the sidelines of the besieged party offices have been picked up by JAT and military
Police silent
Though the illegal arrests were made, Police are yet to issue a legally valid statement justifying their impunity.
President and NUP position on the #March2Parliament peaceful protests
For the record, the 23rd July #March2Parliament protests are not organized by @NUP_Ug. But we support them with all our might because we are #PeoplePower and we absolutely believe in the Power of the People. We support every effort to protest against injustice, corruption and misrule.
The effort by the regime to clamp down and make it look like an NUP initiative is meant to weaken it because they want to make it appear like a partisan matter. The #AntiCorruptionProtests, as we know them, are organized by the young people of Uganda, regardless of their age, religion, tribe, or political affiliation! The criminal regime and its antics will certainly fail!!