Police in Entebbe have interrupted an event that was organized by the Entebbe municipality aspirant candidate, Lilliane Babirye, saying it was an illegal assembly. The organizers noted that the event was legal because they had notified the police days before.
More than two dozen Ugandan police officers, some in riot gear, surrounded the venue at Kiwafu playground denying the residents from receiving the package that included energy-saving stoves, charcoal, gumboots, and solar panels, among others.
In response to the police action, Babirye said that they took all the necessary steps, including informing the police in writing, and permission was granted, giving them a chance to pay for the field, tents and other stakeholders a day before, but surprisingly, the police came and told everyone at the event to vacate immediately.
“Yesterday, we placed our tents, and nothing went on, but today surprisingly, the police have chased away all the people, denying them the opportunity to benefit from what we have lobbed for them, making this political,” she said.
In addition, Babirye noted, “We all have equal rights in our country, and this must stop with immediate effect. We had come to celebrate the International Labour Day, and the main celebration was targeting the theme of empowering women through using smart climate technologies, but to their disappointment, the Uganda police called on the event.”
She also noted that this is supposed to be the duty of the state, but the state has done nothing because very many people are suffering, many women are working and they are not getting profit from the businesses that they are doing, adding, “So we brought energy saving stoves to teach them how they can clean the environment and use these stoves to thrive and make money.”
Babirye also explained that many youths out there on different islands don’t have the basics that are required for them to be legal workers in these islands, that’s why she had come to donate some gumboots to protect them from snails and all those small insects that bite them when they are in water however the police has denied them from this opportunity.
Teddy Nambooze, the Mpigi district member of parliament, encouraged the public, especially the women in Entebbe and all over the country, to be firm in the statement to protect the environment.
“Please stand up with us, Babirye has been here, providing stoves together with charcoal to save the environment as we save some money in our pockets, unfortunately, we are just away by the police, but this won’t stop us from doing what is good for both our people and the environment,” Nambooze noted.
The Entebbe Municipality Deputy Mayor, Charles Kabwama also condemned the acts of indiscipline and intimidation done to the residents.
“It is very unfortunate that the Uganda police is against the developmental issues, which should benefit the residents. We are going to extend this mission, until the people in Entebbe benefit from it,” he said.
Other dignitaries who came to attend the event included Julius Katongole, the youth leader and Councillor Jackie Mirembe, among other NUP leaders.
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