Security Increased Around Parliament Ahead of Debate on Scrapping of Presidential Age Limit, Protest Dispersed
Category: Unrest
Severity: 3 (Moderate)
Source: Drum Cussac
09/21/2017 (Uganda) - Local media reports indicate that security has been significantly increased around the Parliament building in Kampala on Thursday, 21 September, as MPs prepare to debate constitutional reforms scrapping the presidential aid limit. Dozens of armed police officers have reportedly established a cordon around the building and security forces are believed to be patrolling the surrounding streets in armoured vehicles. A number of opposition lawmakers reportedly claimed that they were harassed by police as they attempted to enter Parliament after being accused of inciting protests against the reforms. The proposed constitutional reform to remove the 75-year-old presidential age limit is widely seen as clearing the way for President Yoweri Museveni to stand during the next scheduled election in 2021. On Wednesday, police issued a notice prohibiting demonstrations both for and against the proposed amendment and fired tear gas on Thursday to disperse a student gathering in the capital. It is currently unclear whether police raids against two NGOs in Kampala on Wednesday were linked to the vote but both organisations had previously been accused of supporting anti-government protests.
Those in Kampala are advised to avoid the area around the Parliament building in the immediate term due to the ongoing security operations and potential for unrest. Travellers should monitor local media sources for further updates on the security deployments and to remain apprised of any planned or spontaneous protests in their particular area of operations. All demonstrations and political gatherings in Uganda should be avoided due to the risk of exposure to potential crowd disturbances and incidental violence as well as police crowd dispersal operations.
Copyright © 2024 Drum Cussac
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