The Electoral Commission yesterday wrote a letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola demanding to know why the force he leads has continuously interrupted campaign meetings of opposition presidential candidates.
In a letter dated November 26th, Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission says that he has received several complaints from the candidates expressing dissatisfaction over the continuous interruption of their meetings by the police.
Byabakama’s letter says that the action by the police have caused unnecessary confrontations which have portrayed the campaigns in a negative way.
It adds that presidential candidates have a right to
move and access the designated venues for as long as they comply with the
Standard Operating Procedures issued by the Electoral Commission that limits to
200, the number of people to attend a political meeting.
Wherever candidates especially Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity
Platform (NUP) and Patrick Amuriat Oboi of the Forum for Democratic Change
(FDC) have gone, they have been teargased, or even arrested after clashing with
the police especially in regards to campaign venues.
Speaking to reporters yesterday at the Commission’s headquarters at Jinja Road, Byabakama assured Ugandans that although they have received criticism, they are still very much in charge of the electoral process.
Byamukama 3 on Ochola;…
Ugandans are expected to go to polls to elect their president and Members of Parliament on January 14th, 2021. END.
