BUIKWE- Police in Buikwe District has said they will not compensate teargas victims or anybody who sustains injuries when the police is dispersing rioters, protestors and demonstrators without permission from the Force.
The police officer-in-charge of Operations in Buikwe District, Mr Gideon Atwine, during a community policing sensitization in Lugazi Town last Friday, said: “We (police) will not be held responsible for any teargas victims who are seeking compensation from the Force.”
Mr Atwine added that under the Public Order Management Bill, any gathering, meeting and demonstration which has not been cleared by police is illegal, and wondered why the public forgets about the law.
Mr Atwine said people who are accusing police of their high-handedness or sustain injuries during demonstrations should themselves, foot their own medical bills and expect nothing from police.
Mr Atwine’s proclamation comes after former Forum for Democratic Change President, Dr Kizza Besigye, engaged the police and army in running battles during his visit to Lugazi last week.
Police and army doused his supporters with teargas after they reportedly failed to heed to security directives.
The Democratic Party (DP) was on February 20 stopped from holding their highly anticipated DP-UYD reunion at Jinja Rugby Grounds.
The DP President General, Mr Nobert Mao, who reportedly left Kampala for Jinja at 6 am, was immediately upon arrival, placed into a waiting salon car and whisked to Jinja Central Police Station until 3 pm when he was escorted out of Jinja.
