By Jumah Kakomo
The Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) party has made a passionate appeal to the police and other security agencies to refrain from engaging in partisan politics.
This comes after a recent incident in Alebtong on Saturday, 22nd February 2025, where UPC people were dispersed and redirected to a new venue which was at least 3 km away from the planned venue hindering their ability to express their views freely.
As communicated last week that the UPC President Jimmy Akena will hold mobilisation tours in the sub regions of Lango, Teso and Acholi from February to April 2025, the mobilisation tours have reached Teso sub region, where the party president is set to touch base and engage with the people of Kaberamaido, and Kalaki districts among others.
Arach Oyat Sharon, the UPC spokesperson says, the involvement of security agencies in politics is a major obstacle to the opposition’s ability to exercise their democratic rights. Sharon emphasizes that the role of the police and security agencies should be to maintain law and order, not to take sides in the political arena ¹.
Sharon’s appeal is timely, considering Uganda is preparing for the 2026 general elections. The UPC has been vocal about various issues, including the need for dialogue and reconciliation to combat any acts of violence, promoting unity and democracy.
In the past, Sharon has also spoken out against police brutality specifically to oppositions, calling for the government to set up an inquiry into various matters. She highlights that security agencies to remain impartial and allow the opposition to exercise their democratic rights without fear of intimidation or harassment is crucial in ensuring a free and fair electoral process.
Faizo Muzeyi, the party head of media and communications says democracy needs to be safeguarded at all times, political space ought to be expanded to enable political leadership to reach out to grassroots and engage directly with people who are the voters
“This enables the public to listen to and internalize each and every political Party’s policy platform so as to make well-informed decisions,” Faizo said.
