The NRM caucus meets in Entebbe this evening to discuss the controversial public order management bill.
Daudi Migereko, the Minister of lands and Acting, Chief whip NRM told URN that the Public Order Management bill will be top on the agenda for today’s meeting at the State House to be chaired by President Museveni.
Migereko notes that the party will have a clear position on the bill before the report is tabled in parliament for debate.
The legal affairs committee of parliament that was scrutinizing the bill, in a report, recommended that it be passed into law immediately. It recommended that public assemblies should only be regulated and not prohibited by police.
The draft Bill had proposed that a public meeting would mean any gathering of three or more persons appearing wholly or partially in an open space. But the committee observes that the provision has the potential to be abused by the police to interfere with and arrest any group of three or more persons on sheer allegations.
Cabinet last week approved the Public Order Management bill that has widely been rejected by other parties and civil society organizations. The ministers agreed that emphasis on the powers of the IGP should be maintained. IGP under the impending law has the powers to direct the assemblies and demonstrations.
Government says the law, will prescribe measures for safeguarding public order without compromising the principles of democracy, freedom of association and freedom of speech.
Ugandan opposition parties and human rights groups have on several occasions challenged the proposed law giving police the power to regulate public rallies, because they say it is designed to stifle public dissent.
The discussion of the bill in NRM caucus comes amid the rebranding of the outlawed Action for Change (A4C) to For God and my Country (4GC). The pressure group has been involved in major running battle with law enforcement officers over their rights to demonstrate. The major incidents includes, April 2011 when opposition leader, Kizza Besigye was sprayed with pepper.more than ten people have since died from the fracas between police and the activists.
