Opposition politicians, Dr.Kizza Besigye from the Forum for Democratic Change and National Unity Platform president Robert Kyagulanyi have joined forces to condemn what they termed as “brazen election thuggery” in Uganda in the wake of the Soroti bye-election won by the ruling NRM party candidate.
NRM’s Herbert Ariko was declared the winner of last week’s hotly contested by-election in Soroti East Division to beat Forum for Democratic Change’s Moses Attan.
Ariko got 9,407 votes while Attan, his closest rival got 8,771 votes after campaigns that had seen the opposition join forces to campaign for their candidate.
However, addressing journalists today at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Dr.Besigye said, the various political parties and formations have continuously participated in these elections because of their firm belief in democracy and the rule of law as the most ideal means through which to achieve a peaceful transition for the nation but noted the outcome has not always reflected the will of the people.
They said that just like in Kayunga for the LC5 chairman by election and Omoro, the Soroti by-election was yet another way for the thuggery to be exhibited by the state and its machinery. END.