The Minister of Internal Affairs, Maj Gen Kahinda Otafiire, has urged the new Uganda Police leadership to avoid brutality towards opposition politicians.
Speaking at the handover/takeover ceremony for the new Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, and his deputy, James Ochaya, Otafiire advised the new leadership to respect the rights of opposition leaders.
“Don’t beat the opposition, no, deal with errant citizens; there is a difference,” Otafiire emphasized.
He continued, “That’s what I tell the opposition, when you want to do a demonstration that is legitimate, but when you riot, then we shall also become riotous, deal with bad conduct, so tell Kyagulanyi, Besigye, Bwanika, and so on. If you want to do your meeting, don’t go to the street, in the market, near a school, show him where to go. If you want to make noise go to Kololo, go and jump up and down, when you’re tired you go home,” he said.
Otafiire stressed the importance of balancing the rights of protesters with the rights of other citizens. “If they are going to Jinja, take them to a playground. Let them jump up and down, insult politicians, and when they’re done, they can go home without inconveniencing anyone. Let them exercise their rights while respecting the rights of others.”
In his acceptance speech, the new IGP, Abbas Byakagaba, promised to meet the expectations of both the appointing authority and the citizens at large.