The National Unity Platform has confirmed that they are resuming their countrywide tour on Monday, July 15, 2024, following a meeting between the police and the party leadership.
The development was confirmed by the NUP Secretary General, Lewis Rubongoya, while addressing the press on July 11, 2024, who said their first stop will be in Bundibugyo district.
He said that party leaders had a meeting with the police bosses at police headquarters in Naguru on July 11, 2024, and the party will resume their tours.
“The people of Bundibugyo should wait for us because we are coming on Monday, July 15, 2024, and then proceed to Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Rukungiri, and Isingiro,” Rubongoya said.
Rubongoya also expressed his concern about how many venue owners are scared of hosting NUP events and always ask for police clearance.
“Even venue owners refuse to give us a venue and ask for clearance from the police because they know how partisan the police have been, so we hope to see an improvement in that, and we call upon our people to come and be there waiting for us. We shall be together with our president,” Rubongoya added.
The NUP tours had been halted by the police after their last visit to Masaka, where three people lost their lives in a fatal accident as they proceeded to Masaka town.
In their defense, the Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, said that accidents do happen, and as a party, they have always cautioned their supporters to be careful, just as many times the crowds who join the procession are hard to control and are beyond the party leadership.
“That’s why we need the police, not to stop us but rather to help in directing traffic and securing the safety of our supporters,” Ssenyonyi said.
The country-wide tours are meant to mobilize party supporters and also open up new party offices in some districts where the offices have not been commissioned yet.
