By Andrew Irumba
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni stunned the Uganda Police Force last night when he issued a directive that police should stop arresting Ugandans for being idle and disorderly.
The directive was relayed to the Uganda in a circular issued and signed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martins Okoth Ochola.
The circular copied to all Police Directors, District Police Commanders and Regional Police Commanders titled ‘Arresting People for the Crime of Idle and Disorderly’ partly reads thus; “H.E the President of Uganda has directed that no person should be arrested for the crime of Idle and Disorderly.
The President has also directed that all people arrested for the crime be released immediately and prosecution discontinued.”
Ochola’s statement also directs all police officers in Kampala and its suburbs to immediately release all city traders who were arrested by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) law enforcement operatives and failed to pay a fine of Shs1m.
However, Ochola warns the traders who are to be freed not to repeat the actions that led to their arrests.
News of Museveni’s directive has been received with jubilation by all Ugandans, especially traders and opposition politicians, because they have been the main victims for the Idle and Disorderly law, which was put in place during colonial times when Uganda was a British protectorate.
