Police have warned leaders of the new opposition pressure group, People’s Front for Transition (PFT), against holding illegal assemblies.
Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said they have gathered intelligence showing that the pressure group had planned assemblies and meetings in markets and other public places.
“Although it is a fundamental right for Ugandans to peacefully assemble, all assemblies and meetings are still restricted under the public health orders that are in place due to the existence of COVID-19 in the country. We will, therefore, only respect the right of people to assemble if they have full proof of their clearance from the Ministry of Health,” Enanga said during the weekly press briefing at Naguru, Kampala, today.
Early today morning, Police sealed off the venue where the pressure group was slated to hold a press conference at the Justice Forum (JEEMA) offices in Mengo, Rubaga division at 11:00am. PFT was launched at the JEEMA offices last Thursday.
JEEMA is led by Bugiri Municipality Member of Parliament Asuman Basalirwa, who is also close to the National Unity Platform (NUP), a party led by former presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.
However, NUP has not yet participated in the activities of PFT, and the party leadership said they were not invited for the PFT launch.
Members from Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the Democratic Party (DP), the Conservative Party (CP), People’s Progressive Party (PPP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP), attended the launch.
Four-time presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye, was named the PFT leader while Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who is also the FDC vice president for central region, was named Besigye’s deputy in PFT together with Christine Akiria.
The campaign, in which the proponents argue that they want to give President Yoweri Museveni a “Red Card” out of office, has been viewed by many political pundits as a move by Besigye to make a comeback into active politics, and probably stand again for presidency in 2026.
Besigye and his allies in six political parties said the new political pressure group was one of the opposition avenues through which they intend to oust President Museveni out of power.
