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Ugandans using the national flag without authorization risk being arrested and prosecuted for abuse of the national symbol according to Uganda Police Force.
The police through its Spokesperson, ACP Kituuma Rusoke, has echoed the voice of Hellen Seku, the national patriotism coordinator that the national flag is being abused in the ongoing political campaigns.
The national flag has been one of the symbols dominating political rallies of National Unity Platform presidential candidate, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine.
According to Rusoke, police hasn’t opted to arrest and prosecute people abusing the national flag but have come out to remind them that the law exists and they can be charged for abusing the national symbol.
The National Flag and Armorial Ensigns Act, states that: “Any person who does any act or utters any words or publishes any writing with intent to bring into contempt or ridicule the national flag or armorial ensigns or any representation thereof commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years.”
Human rights lawyers, Dr Livingston Ssewanyana, who is also the executive director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) and Lawyer Eron Kiiza, have castigated the police and all others condemning Ugandans for using the national flag describing the actions as political witch-hunt.
