NUP scrambles to save mobilisation tour, deliver letter to police

The National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership Thursday scrambled to salvage the party's planned consultative tour of the country from the police's heavily spiked barriers.

After their maiden rally in Kamuli District was foiled by batons and teargas on Wednesday, the party took the matter from their tongue to their feet by hand-delivering a letter at the police headquarters in Naguru.

There was drama when NUP spokesperson and the Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi led a team of four people to Naguru to present their petition to the IGP only to be bounced.

The group was barred from accessing the premises and instead directed to a side office to have their petition letter received officially.

Addressing journalists afterwards, Mr Ssenyonyi said they opted to bring the letter physically after police spokesperson said there was no communication of their mobilisation campaigns.

"Last time we sent a letter it was received but there was no stamp, so we want to eliminate that," he said.

In the petition, the NUP is addressing the violence which saw many of its members teargassed and blocked from accessing Kamuli.

"We were clobbered and teargassed, yet we informed them officially," Mr Ssenyonyi said.

The  Police continue to use a public order management law annulled by the court to demand that political parties organising a public meeting inform the IGP in writing to get a clearance.

Having delivered the letter, NUP is expected to resume the mobilisation campaigns and have vowed nothing will stop them.

"Tomorrow, we are going to Pallisa. We are a legitimate registered party and our campaigns will not stop," Ssenyonyi said.

The itinerary from Pallisa will see the party canvass Tororo and other districts before heading north and to West Nile.