Uganda Bans Political Gatherings but Pledges to Free 1,400 Prisoners

The new military leaders of this East African nation banned political gatherings Friday and pledged to free as many as 1,400 prisoners jailed by the ousted government of President Milton Obote.

The moves by the regime that took power in a July 27 coup came as Uganda radio appealed for a “splinter group” of soldiers loyal to Obote to lay down their arms, and the government announced “no fundamental change” in its foreign policy of nonalignment.

Gen. Tito Okello, installed as head of government after the army seized power, announced an immediate ban on political rallies and meetings held without the permission of the ruling Military Council.

“Politicians should not hold rallies or meetings. They must wait for the council go-ahead first,” he said at a swearing-in ceremony for Finance Minister Abraham Waligo, a former Obote minister who Friday became the sixth person named to a caretaker civilian Cabinet.

Radio Uganda said political prisoners jailed by Obote would be freed today at a ceremony in Kampala. Government officials said about 1,400 detainees will be freed and called on relatives and friends to be in the capital for the ceremony.

Meanwhile, an independent Uganda newspaper, the Star, reported that more than 100 bodies in various stages of decomposition have been discovered near a police barracks outside Kampala.

Marks on some of the bodies showed that the victims had been mutilated before being killed and the bodies dumped near Naumulong Barracks, 15 miles north of Kampala, the paper said.

Amnesty International, the London-based human rights group, has charged that under Obote, political opponents were subject to illegal arrest and that many were tortured or killed while in jail.

Foreign Minister Olara Otunu, another new leader in the interim regime, told diplomats Friday that there will be “no fundamental change” in Uganda’s foreign policy of nonalignment and good relations with all nations.