The Uganda Police Force has closed off the National Unity Platform (NUP) party head offices as the leadership was planning to hold a press conference on July 22, 2024.
According to the DPC of Wandegeya police station, Hassan Hiwumbire, the reason for the closure of the NUP offices is because the place is not big enough to host a large number of people.
“We are aware you have been mobilizing people to come and attend your anniversary, but the place is too small for the people, and we don’t want them to suffocate,” Hiwumbire said.
The offices were closed off, and the place was surrounded by both military police and Uganda Police, who did not accept anyone to enter or exit the party premises.
Some NUP Members of Parliament (MPs) and party leaders were denied access, while others have been arrested, including the Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake; Charles Tibandeka, MP for Baale in Kayunga district; and Hassan Kurumira for Katikamu South, and some NUP supporters.
Others denied access include Lina Zedriga, the NUP party deputy president for the Northern Region, and Gorreth Namugga for Mawogola South.
Zedriga said that the press conference was just a normal one, as they have always had a weekly presser.
“Every week we talk to the press, and this was going to be a weekly presser as we have always done, and we don’t know why our offices have been closed. The reason that the commanding officer is giving is not justifiable,” Zedriga said.
The commanding officer asked Zedriga to leave the premises peacefully or else be arrested by the security officers, and after a little scuffle, she was escorted away. The only people allowed around the premises are security officers and journalists.
