The police have warned opposition FDC leaders Dr. Kizza Besigye to respect last week’s Constitutional Court directive banning all activities under the party’s ‘defiance campaign.’
Besigye on Saturday vowed to defy the orders issued by Deputy Chief Justice Steven Kavuma on Friday afternoon banning the party’s public protest activities which include among others weekly prayers.
He said the party would carry on with its intended activities including Tuesday prayers at their headquarters in Najjanankumbi.
Addressing journalists on Monday morning, deputy police spokesperson Polly Namaye warned that the order issued by court has to be respected by everyone regardless of their status.
“The law is very clear on that and it is good it has been reactivated by the Constitutional Court order. A court order is a lawful order and we don’t expect anyone to contravene it,” Namaye said .
“There are a number of activities deemed to be part of the defiance campaign and these are not lawful. Anyone who engages in them does so at their own risk.”
Asked to clarify on whether the Tuesday prayers are part of the activities banned by the Constitutional Court t order, the Deputy Police mouthpiece said that any activity deemed to be part of the defiance campaign will not be allowed.
Namaye warned youths and any other individuals against joining the said activities, warning that failure to comply with orders as issued by the court will lead to apprehension.
“We have got information of people being mobilized to join in activities to destabilize the presidential swearing – in ceremony but we warn them that our officers have been deployed to apprehend them.”
Asked whether Dr. Besigye will not be locked up at his home by the police, Namaye said that the former FDC presidential candidate enjoys freedom like any Ugandan but “if he contravenes the law, we shall apprehend him.”