KAMPALA-The Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga, has asked police officers to stop arresting prostitutes and gamblers with immediate effect.
This he said while delivering a statement on behalf of The Inspector General of Police Martin Ochola, Ochola
According to the statement any police officer who will be found arresting any person on any offenses related to rogue and vagabonding that include idle and disorderly, gambling, and prostitution will face the police disciplinary court.
Last week, five justices of the Constitutional Court ruled that the offense of rogue and vagabond was outdated, archaic, and unconstitutional. They also noted that it infringes on the freedom of movement.
The five-member panel of the constitution court justices comprising Fredrick Egonda-Ntende, Elizabeth Musoke, Christopher Madrama, Monica Mugenyi, and Christopher Gashirabake emphasized that rogue and vagabond offense contravenes article 43 of the Constitution of Uganda, which is the supreme law of the land.
Najib Kasule, a member of public interest advocates, says that police will now start arresting people for serious crimes instead of apprehending them based on their appearance like wearing torn clothes or having dreadlocks.
