Police has come under fire from the Leader of Opposition-LoP, Betty Aol Ochan for blocking the concert of Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine on Boxing Day in disregard of a parliamentary resolution.
Police blocked the annual concert that was meant to take place One Love Beach Busabala in Wakiso district despite earlier communication that the show would be cleared.
Heavily armed police officers backed by armored vehicles and water cannons deployed at the beach in the wee hours of Boxing Day and dispersed the organisers and people who had turned up for the show.
In a statement on his official Facebook page, Bobi Wine said police ordered his sound engineers to bring down the stage and pull down all materials they had put in place for the show. He also claimed that police had dispersed his employees and guests.
Police maintained presence at the beach to ensure the show doesn’t place. Police have blocked at least six similar shows involving Bobi Wine.
The Leader of Opposition-LOP, Betty Aol Ochan told URN in an interview this morning that the police decision to block Bobi Wine’s concerts is unacceptable and unethical.
“We seem to waste time, resolutions we come with are not taken seriously. Parliament does a lot of work but sometimes where resolutions do not augur well politically with the President, yet it is about rights, we don’t get anything,” said Ochan.
She said it was completely unethical for the police to block Bobi Wine’s concerts since they are supposed to enforce the law.
She advised Bobi Wine to go to court and sue individual police officers commanding a clampdown on his concerts in violation of a parliamentary resolution.
Last week, parliament chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga asked government to respect Bobi Wine’s economic rights.
Kadaga directed Internal Affairs Minister, Gen. Jeje Odongo to uphold the Constitution and exhibit fairness when it comes to okaying different concerts.
Police requires organisers of concerts write to the Inspector General or Police (IGP) for clearance. The letter must clearly indicate the expected number of revelers, available crowd control measures and the capacity of the organisers to handle emergencies.
However, Kadaga has since questioned the guidelines. “How do you expect an ordinary organizer to know the expected number that will turn up; to control traffic flow and set up routes; and to avail sniffer dogs?” she asked.
–URN
