Update: Police Block Opposition Demonstrations in Multiple Areas amid Presidential Age Limit Debate
Category: Unrest
Severity: 2 (Low)
Source: Drum Cussac
09/21/2017 (Uganda) - Local media reports indicate that police deployed to block planned opposition demonstrations in multiple areas of the country on Thursday, 21 September, as lawmakers debated a constitutional amendment aimed at removing the presidential age limit. As well as a significant deployment around Parliament, police also sealed off the offices of MP Raphael Magyezi in Bushenyi district of the Western region and the headquarters of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) offices in Najjanankumbi ahead of expected demonstrations. In the Bushenyi district, police claimed that opposition activists planned to burn down Magyezi's offices due to his sponsorship of the controversial amendment. However, opposition activists under the Uganda Citizens Alliance (UCA) group stated that they had planned a peaceful demonstration and intended to go ahead with the march despite the police presence. In Najjanankumbi, former presidential candidate Joseph Mabirizi and several other FDC staff members were reportedly barred by police from entering party's headquarters. Police also deployed outside the Democratic Party headquarters in Kampala ahead of a planned demonstration.
Those in Uganda are advised to monitor local media sources to remain apprised of any security deployments or planned demonstrations 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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