President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni has accused Electoral Commission boss Justice Simon Byabakama and the Inspector General of Police’s men of looking on while some presidential candidates continue to conduct huge rallies contrary to the COVID-19 guidelines from the Ministry of Health.
Speaking during the National Thanksgiving Prayers at Entebbe State House today, President Museveni said that he is not happy with EC on the way they are implementing guidelines put in place to fight COVID-19.
“I am not happy with that Electoral Commission and that police,” Museveni noted.
He explained that as a leader who wants his people to be alive and well, he decided not to make huge political rallies but he wonders why police and EC are looking on while politicians are making huge political rallies well knowing that they will increase the spread of COVID-19.
Museveni insisted that no one will disrupt the coming general elections as many local politicians with the help of some white are planning.
“Our elections will be peaceful; nobody is going to disrupt us. I have heard people here playing games with foreigners backing them. Well, I wish them luck but I can assure you, we shall not tolerate violence, we shall have peaceful elections,” Museveni warned.
He boasted that they have fought for peace for the last 50 years and no one will disrupt it by giving youths drugs to cause insecurity.
He asks religious leaders to be fair when commenting on certain issues, especially the recent free Bobi Wine riot where many of them accused the state of killing Ugandans without condemning those who fueled the riots.
“I will not tolerate violence and criminals attacking people, stealing property and undressing women. I have not heard anyone condemning the acts of undressing women but we must audit who caused the violence incident by incident,” President Museveni said.
He added that, “Our record is that we don’t tolerate indiscipline in our armed forces, we are the only army which has operated in Somalia and has never had any problems yet it is a conservative society.”
“I was busy campaigning when I had that there was violence in Kampala because Bobi Wine was arrested for not following “Tonsemberera”, I gave a broadcast after getting a report but now I want to get an analysis of the stray bullets and I will speak about it,” the president said.
Today afternoon, after President Museveni’s bitter warning, EC boss Simon Byabakama quickly wrote letters summoning the two presidential candidates who have continually gathered huge crowds during their campaigns.
Byabakama has summoned National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat (POA).
Byabakama’s letter summoning Bobi Wine
“You may recall, in your meeting with the Commission on 2″‘ December, 2020, you were reminded to comply with the said guidelines in order to protect the Cltlzens of this Country from Covid 19 Infection Including yourself as a candidate,” Byabakama reminded Bobi Wine.
He added, “Inspite of what the Commission communicated In the above stated meeting, and the press communications on the matter, you have continued to ignore and/or neglected observing the Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) by holding mass rallies and processions, contrary to established guidelines thereby risking the lives of the people. In the process this has resulted Into unwarranted occasional confrontations with security personnel, a case in point are mass rallies held at lganga on 17th November, 2020, and Koboko on 8th December, 2020, among others, and processions en route to your campaign venues.”
“In light of the foregoing, you are Invited In person, to meet the Commission on Monday, 141h December, 2020, at 10:00am to respond to the above issues and chat a way forward,” he summoned.
By Sengooba Alirabaki
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