Following the scuffle between Police and supporters of NUP that rocked Mengo on Tuesday morning, Kampala Metropolitan Police has attributed the clashes to failure to observe the set Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures.
Chaos ensued when musician turned politician, Joseph Mayanja alias Jose Chameleon, set off to open up his offices along Balintuma road. The offices would work as a coordination center for his upcoming campaigns for the Kampala Mayoral seat.
In a statement released by KMP spokesperson SP Patrick Onyango, Chameleon and his supporters had erected nine tents and mobilized people to attend in large numbers.
Onyango said that they had also planned and hired a brass band to lead their procession from Namirembe up to the venue.
“We talked to the organisers to put in place all the necessary SOPs of the Ministry of Health. They refused to comply,” Onyango stated.
“They went ahead to organise the function without considering social distancing, majority had no masks, although a few were putting them on but in the wrong way. This was going to be a breeding ground for COVID-19,” he added.
Police asserts that when they engaged the attendees, they left the venue but instead reiterated and came attacking them violently.
Onyango said that this prompted officers to respond by firing teargas to disperse the violent supporters but did not use rubber bullets during the operation and there were no injuries.
So far, two suspects have been arrested and are being detained at Old Kampala Police Station on charges of disobedience of lawful orders.
