The Uganda Police spokesman ACP Rusoke Kituuma has warned members of the public against the misuse of the Uganda National Flag during the current election campaigns.
While addressing media at the Naguru Police Headquarters on Monday, Kituuma noted that there are growing public concerns about the misuse of the National Flag.
“Let people just know the following, that there is a law which guides the use of the national flag and other Armorial ensigns and that is the national flag and other Armorial Ensigns Act. It tells you how and who authorises you to use that flag, people should just know that there is a law and there are dos and don’ts” he said.
Kituuma further urged members of the public who wish to use the Uganda Flag to seek permission from the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao before using it.
“Anyone wishing to use a flag in that law …….., requires prior permission from the minister and in that case that minister is the minister of justice and constitutional affairs” he said.
Kituuma noted that the force has noted a number of inappropriate uses of the flag from the public in recent weeks.
The Police Spokespersons warning comes a day after the Commissioner, National Secretariat for Patriotism Corp, (NSPC) Hellen Seku, warned mechanics who were meeting President Museveni at Kololo Ceremonial grounds against placing the flag in ungazetted places.
“To put the flag on anything you own, you have to seek permission from the government, government has to give you permission to use the flag even if you want to put in your business”she said.
Seku added, “We as patriotism, we call upon every garage that has put up the national flags anywhere they wanted to, to ask the responsible government offices or police to give you permission to raise that flag and where they should be placed” she said.
The National Flag has been greatly embraced by members of Uganda’s leading opposition party National Unity Platform (NUP) supporters during their campaigns.
The party members took up the flag following a request by their Presidential candidate to move or place the national flag as a sign of patriotism at the beginning of the campaigns.
However a number of security operatives have in recent weeks been seen roughing up NUP supporters with the flag at their rallies.
