The religious leaders claimed that the Monday planned walk to work protests phase two would disrupt the start of UNEB exams undertaken by senior four candidates around the country.
Police presence in Masaka has been stepped up following the refusal by Action for Change Activists to call off their demonstration.
Heavily mechanized anti riot vehicles have been deployed along Total Highway, Kitovu road, Ambience discotheque, Binyonyi zone and at Masaka-Mbarara bypass round about.
Simon Peter Wafana, the Southern Region Police commander, said on Monday that foot patrols presence has also been stepped up.
// Cue in: “People may not contain…..”
Cue out: “…..congregation going to kyabakuza.”//
On Sunday, several religious leaders in Masaka including John Baptist Kaggwa of Masaka Diocese, Canon Nkambo Mugerwa of St. Johns Church of Uganda Kijabweemi, joined President Museveni to ask members of Activists for Change not to go ahead with their planned protests against rising commodity prices.
The religious leaders claimed that phase two of the walk to work protestswould disrupt the commencement of the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) exams.
Bishop Kaggwaalso met MP Mathias Mpuuga, the coordinator of the protests at Uganda Martyrs Primary school in Masaka and asked him to tell his colleagues to call off the protests on groundS that phase one protests in April, yielded nothing but deaths and disruption of business.
But Mathias Mpuuga, insisted that the protests would go on urging religious leaders to advise police not to brutalize people walking to work..
Mpuuga claims that he has also written to Inspector General of Police Kale Kayihura stating that the protests are peaceful.
Joseph Kalungi, the district LC5 Chairman says several people have not opened their shops for fear of a possible outbreak of violence.
Kalungi has advised Mpuuga not to go ahead with the demonstrations but instead seek dialogue with the government instead of causing chaos.
Edward Bindhe
Freelancer