Police have deployed heavily in the major roads leading to Soroti city and events places in anticipation of the planned opposition demonstration.
The demonstration is being organized by Soroti City Woman MP Joan Alobo Acom.
Alobo is blaming Soroti city authorities for undermining her office and holding another parallel belated women’s day celebrations.
On April 14, 2023, Police disrupted the belated women’s day celebration that was organized by MP Alobo.
Meanwhile the East Kyoga Police Spokesperson SP Ageca Oscar Gregg has said through a press release that police received credible information of a planned match to undermine the celebrations to mark international women’s day celebrations set to take place at Soroti Sports ground on Friday, May 26, 2023.
He urged the organizers of the said match that the celebration to mark international women’s day was picked by Soroti women’s council in mirror of how it’s conducted at the national level and as such the Uganda Police is duty bound to secure and treat the event with the esteem it deserves.
“We therefore would like to inform and caution the public and the organizers of such a match that it goes against the grain of the law, and that it contravenes the legal regimes that govern public processions and assemblies,” Agecca said.
“The use of illegal processions has a potential of massively disrupting the other rights of the community, disrupting business, disrupting the flow of traffic, breaching of public peace and tranquility, thefts and pickpocketing and disruption of road side market shops, and running battles with security personnel e.t .c,” he added.
“The Police will use their discretionary powers in policing any unlawful assembly or match thereof. The police of Soroti City have been tasked to remain vigilant and use all lawful and reasonable methods to disperse and disrupt any unlawful assembly or match should any actors decide to disrupt a nationally recognized function to celebrate international women’s day.”