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RIOTERS, TERRORISTS,
CRIMINALS AND LOOTERS AND
METHODS OF ARRESTING AND
HANDLING SUSPECTS
October, 28 2018
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To: Chief of Defence Forces
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You should never push (kutsindika) people that are
enthusiastically surging forward to show support for the NRM or
the President. You should never kuteera ebigaanja (hitting on
the chest of an approaching person with open palms) any
member of the public. Therefore, the bodyguards of public
officials should strictly observe these rules. They are part of the
NRA Code of Conduct. They are not a new composition. The law-
abiding Ugandans will respond positively and co-operate. These
are a consequence of our philosophy which says that the Africans
are one big family.
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Indeed, Uganda has been stable for a long time. It will remain
stable. Therefore, nobody should be allowed to threaten life,
property or orderliness (obuteeka) in Uganda. If you are a critic,
do so truthfully and peacefully.
If, however, the rioters do not stop after the Police use of shields
and sticks (whether long or short) and, if the water cannons that
are very effective are not available, then, the Police can use live
bullets by first firing in the air; but, if the rioters persist, the
Police will fire directly at the rioters to protect the lives and
property of the law-abiding citizens or protect themselves from
the rioters.
Therefore, those who speak about this subject should know that
rioters, under certain conditions, can be shot legally and can also
be beaten legally and legitimately. It is, therefore, a serious
miscalculation by the opportunist and criminal leaders to
manipulate young people into such situations. Why do they not
send their sons and daughters to riot? When it comes to
suspected terrorists or murderers, running away from the
arresting team is a serious mistake. You will be shot. Why? If the
Police do not disable you or kill you, they may never get another
chance to catch you so that you answer for your crimes.
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In the meantime, the criminal may commit more crimes.
Therefore, shooting a terrorist who is running away from the
security forces trying to arrest him/her, is in order not to allow
him/her to escape from the forum where accountability is
possible (by being tried in the courts of law) and also to protect
the public against further crimes.
(d) If the rioters persist and threaten life or property, you can
use live bullets, first firing in the air and, eventually, if necessary,
firing at the rioters;
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terms of imprisonment, fining wrong doers or even hanging them.
Therefore, security personnel do not meddle and spoil the
process. Just do your part.
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not just to appear stable. Nevertheless, for logical and legal
reasons, the army and the other security forces can, if required,
backup the Police in Law and Order Management.
These measures are not only rational but most of them are
already part of the SOPs (Standard Operational Procedures) of
the Police, part of the Police Act and also part of the UN
Conventions. If they were not part of the law, we would have long
ago made them so.
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7. Intentional use of fire arms or lethal force may only be
made when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life.
Yoweri K. Museveni
PRESIDENT
Date: