U.S Embassy urges Ugandan Gov’t to respect rights of citizens

​The U.S Embassy, in a statement published on their website, joined the Ugandan people in calling on the government to respect their freedom of assembly and expression as enshrined in their constitution.

​The United States Embassy in Uganda on Tuesday condemned President Yoweri Museveni’s government for reportedly blocking musical concerts and disrupting peaceful demonstrations in the country.

This comes after a concert by outspoken singer-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was on Monday shut down by police officers who detained him and fired teargas canisters at his fans.
The U.S Embassy, in a statement published on their website, joined the Ugandan people in calling on the government to respect their freedom of assembly and expression as enshrined in their constitution.

“Today we join the many Ugandans asking why their government has recently blocked musical concerts and radio talk shows, disrupted peaceful demonstrations and rallies, and deployed heavy-handed security forces against peaceful citizens,” read the statement.

“Strong leaders and states do not stifle speech – they allow their citizens to participate fully and without fear in a vibrant multi-party democracy.”
Kyaddondo East MP Bobi Wine is currently under house arrest at his home in Kampala following the thwarted Easter Monday concert on the shores of Lake Victoria.

​Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, the embattled legislator said police and the military personnel deployed to his residence have since surrounded his fence and installed barricades on all roads leading to his home.

“It is today when I attempted to move out of my home that the police told me that I am under house arrest. I was headed to Police headquarters in Naguru to deliver a notification about our planned peaceful demonstrations against police brutality, injustice and misuse of authority,” he wrote.

“When they blocked me, I asked my lawyers to deliver the letter, but they too have been blocked and stopped from accessing the police headquarters. A public office! They were ordered to leave the gate to the police headquarters immediately or face arrest!”
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He further added: “Since they have refused to receive our notification as commanded by the law, WE SHALL GO AHEAD AND DEMONSTRATE PEACEFULLY AS GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION. This is our country!”

​By Ian Omondi For Citizen Digital

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