The Chief of Defence Forces in the UPDF, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba has directed security agencies to arrest all National Unity Platform supporters who don military-like attires.
“I give permission from today, all security agencies to arrest on the spot any NUP or other opposition groups wearing anything resembling a military uniform,” Gen Muhoozi said on his X.
In the past, several opposition National Unity Platform supporters have been arrested over wearing red berets and other military attire.
However, there has been discontent among the members of the public at the manner in which the law is selectively applied by arresting opposition supporters donning military-like attires but those supporting or government leaning are left to move freely.
Several musicians including Alien Skin and many others have been on several occasions seen donning military-like attire and causing chaos without anyone touching them.
Section 170(2) of the Penal Code Act says that any person who, without the authority of the persons upon whose application an order under this section has been made, uses or wears any uniform, badge, button or other distinctive mark described in the order, or any uniform, badge, button or another distinctive mark so closely resembling the same as to lead to the belief that it is a uniform, badge, button or another distinctive mark so described, commits a misdemeanour.
The Penal Code Act, however, doesn’t specify the punishment for this offence but says “when any person is convicted of any offence under this section, the uniform, badge, button or another distinctive mark in respect of which the offence has been committed shall be forfeited unless the Minister shall otherwise order.”
