The Police Should Be Civil [editorial]

THE Police have come under severe attack, rightly so, over using excessive force to arrest MPs and stop public rallies. Last weekend Police cordoned off parts of Kampala, to stop the Democratic Party (DP) from holding a rally near the Clock Tower, disrupting business and traffic flow.

Later they raided the DP headquarters and arrested officials who were addressing the public through the window using loudspeakers.

Other unrelated incidents followed in which MP Susan Nampijja had her meeting with constituents thwarted with tear gas. And another MP, Nabilah Ssempala was roughed up and carted away on a police truck from St Balikuddembe Market, where she was on a tour of her constituency. This must be condemned.

Police must be civil in its operations or risk losing public confidence. Already the succession of events involving the Police is portraying the force in bad light. Some people are even interpreting the Police's actions as politically motivated.

Yet they are not. The Police may have an excuse for blocking the DP rally, but not MPs' addressing their constituents. MPs are free to meet and talk to their constituents. The Police can only advise on an alternative venue when businesses and other services are being inconvenienced, which the politicians should heed. Defying Police orders as some politicians do is unacceptable.

It provokes the Police's knee-jerk response which is also unacceptable. The way forward is for the Police and politicians to be rational - agree on venue and time of the rallies. But the Police should be civil and politicians ought to abide by its orders.