In August this year the Deputy Speaker of Uganda Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah was in thrust in the eye of the storm when he presided over the passing of the Public Order Management Bill, which many people in Uganda and human rights activists around the world branded illegal and draconian since it gave the Uganda police powers previously struck out by the Constitutional Court of Uganda.

The Public Order Management Bill did not put the people of Uganda first, the former minister of Uganda for Local Government, Bidandi Sali told Ultimate Media on Tuesday in Kampala. The retired politician describes the Public Order Management Bill as dangerous, illegitimate, authoritarian and undemocratic legislation.

Under the Public Order Management Bill you cannot discuss poor service delivery by the Uganda ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) headed by president Museveni without permission from Uganda Police. Even if you are in your home, you cannot discuss lack of drugs in hospitals and bad road network without seeking for permission from people in power.

In Uganda, one can not discuss matters of public interest when convening gatherings like birthday parties, wedding meetings, religious fellowships, and meetings of professional associations without police permission. The Public Order Management Bill prohibits discussing public interest issues while assembled in groups like market vendors’ associations, mothers’ union, taxi drivers, prayer groups, old students associations, and or discussing failures of government like corruption without first seeking for approval of Uganda police. Bidandi Sali challenges leaders in Museveni’s government to desist from taking part in the enactment of anti people and undemocratic laws.

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