The Attorney general, ministry of internal affairs and the Uganda Police have defended the public order management bill calling for its enactment amid protests from the public.

Appearing before the legal and Parliamentary affairs committee of Parliament, Peter Nyombi the attorney general says there is a lacuna in the existing laws of the land that the bill seeks to fill.

The minister of state for internal affairs James Baba in his submission underscores the fact that the demonstrators have changed the manner in which they conduct their demonstrations requiring for a law to protect other people not interested in demonstrations.

The Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura has appealed to the committee to pass the bill into an act saying the Police have become a punching bag of the Politicians who have failed to iron out their differences, with the spills falling into the hands of the Police.

The deputy chairperson of the committee Bakka Stephen Mugabi has tasked the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney General and the minister of internal affairs to explain why they are insisting on a bill that was not consultative in development, subsequently being rejected by all stake holders.

The committee members seem to agree with the need for a legislation to regulate public gatherings following a series of peacefully turned riotous gatherings although they don’t agree with the bill in its present state.

A number of other stakeholders who have appeared before the committee on the same issue have warned Parliament against passing such a bill as it may turn out a recipe for disaster.

Ultimate Media