Kale Kayihura: “Aine’s Family Being Dramatic” (Youtube-Clip)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8XxGNRc0ew

“Following a press conference that was slated for today, Aine’s brother who was going to the venue was whisked away. Kayihura has come out to dismiss the allegations that the police is behind this” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016).

The People’s President held peaceful campaign rallies today in Nakapiripirit and Amudat; While the Calvary defaced and pinned over posters; They even sieged the Amudat Hospital

FDC Amudat Rally 090116

If you we’re in Amudat today, you would see that RDC Saban Kachimete of Amudat was first busy getting police to pin-over FDC presidential candidate poster in the day before his arrival and his campaign rally. They we’re also tearing them to pieces like they have done with Go-Forward posters before their campaigns. The Police is so impartial in the campaign work for the NRM! They are really the NRM Police Force, why not just switch names, maybe that is the next for IGP Kale Kayihura and CP Fred Enaga to do, to prove loyalty to Mzee.

FDC Rally in Amudat Hospital 090116

Well, the local police we’re not doing the work for Mzee.They was stationed at the Amudat hospital to make sure that the Campaign convoy of FDC held themselves far away. If you needed the police today in Amudat, then forget the police posts in the area; most of the crew seemed to be stationed there, because all the crime and prevention of crime seemed to be there.

Now read what the People President says after all of this.

Defacing Poster Amudat P1 090116

Dr Kizza Besigye message after the rallies the 9th January 2016:

“Nakapiripirit and Amudat was a great experience! Thank you to everyone that made everything possible for us to have our campaign done and completed in the two districts. In Amudat, the police manning health centre 3s continued, our posters were all defaced and covered. But this we know that our support comes from people’s hearts. The RDC, police and NRM members are so desperate to deny us visibility in people’s eyes, but it is evident we are in their hearts. Thanks for the support for the party and my candidature. God bless you all. One Uganda One People».

FDC Campaign Rally 090116

That’s enough today, Peace.

People’s President held peaceful campaign rallies today and also had a visit at Lwanda IDP Camp; there was positive campaigning in Kween & Kapchorwa district!

Kapwocha FDC 080116 P2

Today FDC Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye visited to districts. Wbere be travelled the villages and major towns. Also visited a IDP camp without the Police creating election-violence. Wonder if the Electoral Commission accepted it today or lost their step for a second. So today we’re a second day in row without anything of violence happening to the FDC and Besigye which is a great thing. Let’s enjoy that!

Keen District Lwanga IDP Camp 080116

Before he had the main rally he visited Lwanda Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Kwanyly sub-county in the Kween district. He was led to tour the camp where he witnessed an inhuman condition people are leaving in. The worst of all is when Dr. Kizza Besigye was told that they have nowhere to bury the dead. They bury at night after sneaking dead bodies to the nearest land. There are over 256 families living in IDP camp who are displaced from Kapktwata forrest 16 years ago.

Keen District Lwanga IDP Camp P2 080116

In Kapchorwa at the Boma Grounds, where Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye held a rally today said this:

“Let’s regain confidence as the masters of our land, this campaign is part of the struggle to liberate ourselves from those who have enslaved us and made us refuges in our country”.

Kizza Besigye message after the rallies today:

“Thank you Kween and Kapchorwa! #WesigeBesigye”. 

Kapwocha FDC 080116 P1

This here proves yet again. How the people are going to see and greet Dr. Kizza Besigye. As example: they we’re delivering all kinds of gifts and showing appreciation of his visit to the districts of Kween and Kapchorwa. The stories of Lwanda are sad; the other sad issue is the extent of their stay and living conditions, but the left-behind by the government. The other thing about it that is good is that the Police didn’t go ham today. That is good to hear and also a little happiness. That there wasn’t another Bukwo district and incident that hurt people with tear-gas and shooting live bullets against the FDC convoy. So there are sometimes certain districts where the Regional District Commander or District Police Commander who went crazy for following orders from IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura. Today there we’re another day where the Blue painted the district they we’re visiting. FDC and Dr. Kizza Besigye had yet another day of positive campaign for the cause and mission of defiance against the NRM-Regime. Peace.

Mzee doesn’t feel the Calvary can protect the election anymore; therefore he changes guards and get the Army to flex for him

IGP Kayihura Gen Katumaba M7

There been news that Mzee have ordered the Uganda People’s Defence Force to be in-charge of the security during the rest of the election-time, because in the previous elections the people or citizens of Uganda have been sleeping. They we’re sleeping so well and misunderstood by Mzee. He must have forget the reactions to the recent General Election in 2011 that ended in public display and post-election violence; at the strange past, where the now Presidential Candidate Dr. Kizza Besigye and other politicians started the demonstrations with the group of Activist4change and “Walk to Work”.

Mzee have a little amnesia and even have forgotten that have got so much money to spend on post-election violence. But why postpone the violence when you can intimidate the public in 40 days before the Election Day and polls. That sounds so much sweeter, right? Why wait to be hit and the international media on your agenda when you can do it more in silence now.

Mzee have the plan since he is seeing the Go-Forwand/TDA and FDC Presidential Candidate during better than expected. While Mzee and his party is like ferrying more people than the ordinary safari company in the country and especially countryside where he have lost support. So the easy way is to rent buses and get people from other districts to look like you still have the power and suction in the country.

Mzee have issues, strong issues with opposition; that’s why when he looks back in time. He remember with joy the times between 1986 to 2005; when there wasn’t anything else than his own built Movement Political System. That went away with the 2005 referendum. That has opened the gates for other people then Mzee to actually rule! While Mzee did apparently around the same time he did take away the Presidential Term Limits, that why still Mzee have executive powers and campaigning for yet another term.

Mzee have seen the rise of people lately and that people aren’t eating of his hand and enjoying his speeches as they once did. While the Uganda Police Force and IGP Gen Kale Kayihura doesn’t make the people fear Mzee and his folks enough. Not even Mzee’s Wife’s grin and speeches can’t beat the lions into shape, the people are to touchy with the Leopard’s anus. So he has to switch up.

Leopard

Mzee has already switched up in the UPDF and gotten his loyal friend Chief of Defence Forces Gen Katumba Wamala. Since IGP Kayihura haven’t played this well enough and his spokesman CP Fred Enanga looks foolish. That makes Mzee looks like dumb-dumb and he can’t have that. To look dumb isn’t respected and Mzee need all respect and honor to man.

Mzee can’t have this and the way Hon. Amama Mbabazi of the Go-Forward his new arch-nemesis and former arch-nemesis Dr. Kizza Besigye of the FDC is making is life and election campaigning so hard. The Police can’t even beat them enough or the block their campaign rallies. They are not creating enough havoc so that the people lose hope in them. The police aren’t even jailed enough FDC people or Go-Forward to secure Ugandans from them. Because Ugandans are NRM; Mzee is that right or have I misunderstood you? No wait, Ugandans are the ones that will work for you and under your executive power.

cadets10 UPDF

Later today he released this through State House of Uganda:

“President Museveni has assured Ugandans that no one can disrupt Uganda’s hard earned peace and security. President Museveni said: “The Army and other security agencies are strong enough to handle anybody who attempts to interrupt the peace that is prevailing in the country.”

The Security Agencies went into collaboration before the election as they made 40 Units consistence of Uganda Prisons, Internal Security Organization, External Security Organization, Uganda Police Force (UPF) and Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF). This was in the middle of 11th November 2015. So this measure seems now in beginning of January 2016 to not be enough, together with the Electoral Commission’s not use of UPF as much as they have done to now during this stressful time.

Gen Katumba Wamala

Now that the letter between President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the executive power of Uganda have ordered the Chief of Defence Forces Gen Katumba Wamala to deploy troops around the country to secure the election. So that he will take over for IGP Gen Kale Kayihura is following the Presidential Candidates and other ones trying to get voted in for the general elections in February this year. Just 40 days before the Presidential polls happens. It must be a tactic of fear. The power of anti-riot police following Go-Forward Presidential Candidate Convoy isn’t enough. The stressful movements of the police towards the Forum for Democratic Change Presidential Candidate Convoy that have done what it could even violence when it has to. For Mzee that is not enough and safe enough; Bukwo District against the FDC and Northern districts policing of Go-Forward. That has not been cutting it. The defiance and struggle of the opposition is not enough.

Mzee need bigger guns to control these vile political parties that he didn’t really wanted. That is why he had elections for it twice. Not only in 28th July 2005 where the “Yes” for Multi-party system against the Movement System where 92, 44% versus 7, 56%. They had a previous try out before the election in 2001. That was in 29th June 2000 when 90, 71% voted for the Movement System versus the Multi-Party System who got 9, 2%. So Mzee got one less election with more parties then NRM, I am sure he wished the result in 2005 could be reversed since there is so much work with elections after releasing UPC, DP, PPP, PDP, TIC, TDA, FDC etc etc. To keep the NRM people secure because the true Ugandans are NRM.

NRM 13.11.15 Kole South

Mzee and have enjoyed in silence the words of his chairman. The man he employed in the Electoral Commission who said that he would call on the military if needed to keep the elections peaceful. You have ensured that he doesn’t have to do that. Mzee have done it today!

Mzee, this is ironic, it’s your people who are violent, most likely the Police and Crime Preventers are the ones who usually are behind the issues. The NRM Primaries we’re the King-Kong Cadres who came with security agents and took the paperwork and results to clear it before delivered to the NRM Electoral Commission for review. The same is happening here, the NRM is initiating together with the Police or the Police alone after orders from the Electoral Commission. So the opposition convoys are in the field not knowing what kind of police are there or what kind of crime preventers who enters the area of campaigning. That is why the violence has not erupted at Mzee’s Campaign Rallies; instead it is just poster perfect and wonderful yellow flowery smiles. Up to a point where it looks unrealistic and the perfection is just like Insta-DAMN. Well, that is not enough for Mzee, he doesn’t like that. Because FDC and Go-Forward campaigning is big and without ferrying voters from districts that is from other ones than where Mzee actually campaign giving them a bus-ride and paying for support. That must hurt after 29 years and nobody giving you love!

Mzee, you must be desperate to see the people going to FDC instead of you, even to Mbabazi then you! Therefore you have to use the trick of old since you haven’t learned any new. UPM is reacted. Uganda Patriot Movement; is resurrected through National Resistance Movement. They need to go to the bush, this time they are the UPC and have the UNLA in new name and state govern facilitated through the now UPDF! The generations have moved on and there new people in the army, still some old leaders from Luweero, though very few are still there. Mzee has kept a few of his men close and other have scattered like the ones who are his main opposition. So they know the Movement system and the way Mzee thinks. Still they try!

NRA M7

Mzee needs the army and bush-war tactics again, because he doesn’t trust anything else. Since he can’t produce any moral fiber or make anything worthwhile. Mzee lives and strides on the fear and not on the actual political platform or agenda since that is rewind from former elections; Mzee is not committed to deliver to the Ugandan people anymore, therefore he needs the army to secure that the Electoral Commission and Uganda Police Force is necessary tools for Mzee to get his will. That is so he can continue being the Executive Power and His Excellency President of Uganda. Mzee can’t trust the Uganda Police to deliver anymore and since it getting closer to the General Election in February 2016. That is why he trust now more in the advanced weapons then the Police to secure that he get the prize again, even if the opposition looks like it’s winning over the people this time around. Peace.   

Press Release: UPF statement on the allegation of brutalization of the Go-Forward Team by the Police (07.01.2015)

UPF Press Release Go-F P1 070116UPF Press Release Go-F P2 070116

The sad story of Christopher Aine

Amama Masaka 16.11.15 Poster

We live in times where the regime has gone further and made moves that is just unjustified. Hon. Amama Mbabazi the former PM of Uganda and one of the independent presidential candidates in the general election of February 2016; have strong issues with the ruling NRM-Regime he we’re a former member of and in the inner circles of.

Hon. Amama Mbabazi is running and has a campaign team under the Go-Forward Group and The Democratic Alliance (TDA). Parts of that is a security detail that is restricted under the Electoral Commission under guidelines of the Uganda Police Force. Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu should know about this because he verifies and validates the running sheets and applications. IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura has knowledge of the security detail and usually adding people and weapons to secure the presidential candidate.

Go Forward 17.12.15 Free Aine

In this picture we’re the Security Detail of Amama Mbabazi where a brother who run it and we’re the aid of him, Christopher Aine. He is now a pivotal man and also a part of the struggle that Mbabazi had with the government. On the 13th December 2015 the election-violence that we’re sponsored by NRM and showed with cars of Sarah Kaglingo; this is where the local Regional District Police Commander helping to facilitate the Crime Preventers to make it happen!

The aftermath have been Go-Forward Security Team have been jailed. Christopher Aine went missing from around 17th December 2015 and never really surfaced since then. Mr Aine was picked up on December 17th at a round 6:00am by security officers from Bbunga, a Kampala suburb and taken to unknown destination along Luwero.

MuseveniQuote

On 20th December 2015 Mzee said this:

“If you put your hands in the anus of a leopard, you are in trouble” (…)“Thugs attacked NRM supporters. They are being rounded up, you cannot attack Ugandans. How can you attack NRM supporters in Uganda?  They’ll regret it”. He surely meant somebody in general that day.

The rest of the Go-Forward Security Team went to jail and other people involved in the campaign of Amama Mbabazi went to jail in the two weeks after Ntungamo clashes and election-violence. There we’re 17 people arrested at the Headquarter in Kampala on the 21st December; on the same day at the residence of JPAM four people we’re jailed. But still at this time there we’re no proof of Christopher Aine.

IGP Kale Kayihura Quote

1st January 2016 IGP Kale Kayihura went public with this:

“Police has issued notice to the public appealing for any information as to his whereabouts so that we apprehend him to answer charges relating to the incidents of beatings in Ntungamo district” (…)”We have put a reward of Shs 20 million for anyone who can help Police with information leading to his arrest and prosecution”.

2nd January 2016 IGP Kale Kayihura said this:

“Aine is the key suspect in the Ntungamo incident but he has not yet been apprehended, as he is on the run or in hiding. As police, we are offering a Shs20m reward for anyone who will tell us where he is hiding”.

On the early 6th January IGP Kale Kayihura have asked the Go-Forward Camp to bring forward Christopher Aine. Since they must be hiding him somewhere; Kayihura accuses the camp of hiding Aine, who is wanted for participating in clashes between National Resistance Movement (NRM) and Go-Forward supporters in Ntungamo district.

On the late night 6th January the photos of a deceased Christopher Aine arrived online. I will not show it. This photos we’re released by Charles Rwomushana. They we’re later released on the 7th January in the Daily Monitor and Red Paper newspapers this have led to the editors being jailed for showing them to the public, which we’re already floating online for close to 24 hours. Here is the letter that the Police sent to Red Pepper today.

Aine 7.1.16 UPF

 

Also on the 6th January 2016:

“Youth activists led by Norman Tumuhimbise, the National coordinator of the Jobless Brotherhood launched a manhunt for Aine at the home of his mother Jennifer Namuleme in Katale zone in Semuto town council in Nakaseke district. According to Tumuhimbise, they intend to raise Shillings 40 million to reward whoever will provide information on Aine’s whereabouts”.

Norman2

On the 7th January 2016 CP Fred Enanga has claimed the photo circulated where manipulated. While the sister of Christopher Aine and brother has claimed it to be him and have visited the Kampala Capital City Authority Mortuary to find the body and collect the remains of their deceased brother. Relatives of missing independent presidential candidate Amama Mbabazi’s aide Christopher Aine, have failed to trace his body at the mortuary, where they had gone to check for the reported dead body this morning. So after this the have claimed again that the family and Go-Forward are hiding Aine somewhere.

Also today the sister of Aine want’s the police to issue an warrant on the media who have published the photos, while CP Fred Enanga want the Jinja Road Magistrate to issue an warrant for the missing Christopher Aine. Later in the day today we’re just one editor of Red Pepper Newspaper who had to give statements to the Police. Now hours after three editors are detained from the paper is under arrest for releasing the story to the press. Police claims they know where he is missing.

Afterthought:

This here is starting to seem like UPF need better spin-doctors because nothing fits, I am just waiting for them to detain the sister for false-claim of picture in the media. The Ntungamo Clashes that we’re NRM’s fault have proven the issues of the one-man rule and their way of vengeance. Live free or die harder!

IGP Kale Kayihura tries to look good and make his men look wise. The same with CP Fed Enanga they might trick the die-hard illiterate hillbilly who hasn’t got their mind of their own. The rest of us see through it. There are too many loose points to the story and the police have a violent record that is longer than the hospital records at the Kings Hospital Mulago in Kampala.

That the UPF is after such a long while UGX 20m proves that there is something missing; it must be because he we’re an aide to the Go-Forward Presidential Candidate Amama Mbabazi. If he we’re one of the kids or people being washed on the shore at Lake Victoria during late-December 2015. Then we would know they we’re extra serious, that was a big group of people who lost their lives. Christopher Aine is important and the trust issues between Police Force and the people of Uganda they are supposed to serve. It proves that the Aine case is special and that it wouldn’t be weird if Special Forces Command is behind the abduction and made-him-go-missing. Later letting him loses his life. Uganda Police Force have taken people in the night and after social media and other people react they surface like Norman Tumuhimbise and Vincent Kaggwa we’re missing for two days in July 2015 and the family had to task the Police to release his all of a sudden with bruises and such. There is something wrong with Police and their actions toward opposition members and leaders in Uganda. Christopher Aine’s story is a sad one and he seems like he is deceased and hurt by the Police of Uganda by the Photos released online and published by the Red Paper Newspaper. I am just sad for the family, the Go-Forward Team and the election in general since this a useless death. A person is more valuable than power, money or elections.

That the Police can that easy take a life and get rid-off opposition figures brings worry of the state of rights in Uganda. The Police is not serving the people if they are killing the aid of Amama Mbabazi. That proves the issues between Amama Mbabazi and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni are too deep. Something is missing and this can’t be joked about. Christopher Aine did not live to die for nothing. Nothing is an election that President Museveni rigged, that he rigged yet again. Like he has done before; Christopher Aine was a supporter of Mbabazi. General Election of 2016 is so close and the killing seems forced by the power to sprint fear in the Go-Forward/TDA Camp to intimidate them from delivering and making the election harder for Mzee.

Mzee and his henchmen have gone too far. Mzee and his police have not told anything meaningful on the people on the shore of Lake Victoria. They might not be political killings like Christopher Aine. Aine is a manifestation of political violence and the deepest tragedy in this part of the campaign trail. That is a senseless murder of an innocent guard of a Presidential Candidate after the Ntungamo clashes. The Ntungamo clashes that Mzee claimes is Go-Forward supporters fault; which by now have to be credited NRM and their Police, who is clearing their name by killing Aine. The truth will come out; the worst is that this is just one out of many suspicious deaths. So many cars and automobile accidents with important people dies and election violence from the NRM-Regime will be tainted by this. If the international media catch-on, I doubt that, they only care if it is a gay brother who dies, because they matter more than political-killings for the moment. I don’t know why, but Christopher Aine should matter as much as David Kato, but trust me for the international media; they doesn’t see that way, even if I wish it be different. Aine deserves to be the crown-example of the violence in the name of National Resistance Movements Police Force in Uganda. Surely he is! Though the outcome is sad and that the UPF does what it can to spin-it differently. The world need to know the truth and the world want to know what really happened.

The loss of life that is Christopher Aine for being the aide of Amama Mbabazi in this time and day make me sad and furious. The way CP Enanga and IGP Kayihura tries to pin it differently is to wash their hands clean. Still, there are too many plots moving and the violence of the police and following the Uganda Police Force this seems likely. IGP Kayihura told the press earlier in the timeline that he just follows orders. Mzee can snap his mind and could have ordered it like Pizza and IGP Kayihura would say “Kale Ssebo”. So the life of Aine and his life will be remembered for the way the NRM-Regime acts towards the public and hurts the opposition, not serving them or giving them any steady-progress! Peace.  

UPF Press-release: Don’t Use the Photograph on Red Pepper today 7th January 2016 caption “Aine Body Emerges” – They are investigating it!

UPF AIne Pic P1UPF AIne Pic P2

The Calvary sieged the Bukwo District; because the fear of the FDC Campaign convoy

Bukwo FDC Campaign Trail 060116 P1

The Calvary continued to stifle for the FDC convoy in Bukwo district. There we’re violence around the Teriet IDP camp earlier today, but the RPC of Sipi Gerald Twishime has been busy today! Where many of the FDC convoy got hurt in the battalion with the Police and two police officers also got injured by the tear-gas, live bullet and road blocks around the camp.

The campaign trail where scheduled to continue in the district. He also making ready to campaign in Seibei region, but they has been silent after the campaign rally around the Teriet IDP Camp.

Bukwo FDC Campaign Trail 060116 P2

When you see the photos of other places that we’re expected to have a visit of Dr. Kizza Besigye and the FDC Campaign Convoy it seems like the Police is ready for warfare and not campaigning. Is that the legacy of Museveni and the NRM-Regime? Not proper democratic values, instead they show violence and unjustified actions that is later claimed to be right by central police spokesman CP Fred Enanaga. We knew that we’re coming, they can’t help themselves. The police are a tool of the regime and the RPC or DPC is just a mouthpiece and the G.I. WOW of IGP Kale Kayihura who follows blindly his master and issues the laws when he can justify unjust behavior of his men, but that is not something we don’t have to worry about right?

Bukwo FDC Campaign Trail 060116 P3

Because we know Gen. Kayihura does just what his ordered to do. Just as the Electoral Commission uses the regulations as it fits Mzee, and makes it harder for the opposition, just as they have done today. The lawmen have gone more army fitted then UPDF and with machineguns bigger than Rambo. Stallone must grin where he is sitting and looking at the photos of his lookalikes in Seibei sub-county and Bukwo district! Instead NRM and NRM-Regime need a reality check for their election-violence that they sponsor, and this is what they will be remembered for. Be proud!

The NRM Chairman for Bukwo after seeing the violence in the area has deflected to FDC today after seeing how the Police treated the locals and the eruptions that it created.

Later in the day after the IDP Camp this happen:

In Napada Trading Centre when the FDC convoy came there the Police started yet again shot live bullets against crowds and cheering public to see the People’s President.

#Wesige Besigye! Peace.  

The Calvary went violent around a IDP Camp; when the People’s President we’re about to address them

Besigye IDP 06.01.16 P1

Yet another day of campaign rallies for the People’s President, who we’re campaigning in Bukewo district. He had already today had campaigning in villages before setting up for a rally near the Teriet Internally Displaced Camp in Kapkaros sub-county.

Besigye IDP 06.01.16 P2

This was not something that the Police of the area accepted. Gerald Twishime the  RPC Sipi and the police went totally gung-ho on the FDC campaign convoy. First they threw their natural instinct in and with that tear-gas into the crowd to disperse the people. Also shooting live bullets into the crowd; two people we’re seriously hurt and shot in their legs. The FDC men we’re manhandled. People who we’re hurt by the police we’re Nandala Mafabi, Sadik Amin and Ingrid Turinawe got one her leg broken by the police.

Besigye IDP 06.01.16 P3

Reason for this:  “The Police said Dr. Besigye has no right to address a gathering near an IDP”. Which law and why all of sudden is that not allowed?

Besigye IDP 06.01.16 P4

Hours earlier FDC had a successful campaign in Bukowo Town. So it’s sad that the whole day couldn’t be filled with that kind of actions and peaceful interaction between the public and one of their Presidential Candidate. But the Police in the area wouldn’t be remembered that way, sincerely yours IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura be proud of your men, your right?

Bukowo Town Besigye 06.01.2016 Campaign

Why couldn’t the rally around the IDP camp look like this, which we’re earlier this morning? Because the Police can’t help themselves, instead we got something as ordinary as election violence from the Uganda Police Force.

FDC continue with your defiance this election violence is nonsense from the forces of the government. Not righteous or justice, just foolish and damaging. Peace.  

Press Release: CCEDU – Preventing Electoral Violence A Civic Responsibility for All (06.01.2015)

EditedElections-300x145
The Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) applauds the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda for adding his voice on the campaign for a peaceful, free and fair 2016 general election through his Press Statement dated 5th January 2016 (titled, “Maintaining peace, unity and security during and after elections”).
CCEDU has noted with concern that electoral violence remains a serious threat to the February 18th 2016 elections as evidenced by some of the incidents that have so far happened during the on-going political campaigns (recent clashes between candidates’ supporters in Ntungamo and Gulu). These cases of election-related violence continue to create a sense of terror and uncertainly among voters. And should such incidents of violence increase, questions on whether Uganda is capable of holding free, fair, peaceful and representative elections will inevitably emerge.
There is also worry that millions of nervous Ugandan voters could stay away from voting due to fear of violent attacks, threats or politically motivated intimidation.
CCEDU therefore calls upon parties and candidates to desist from acts that could orchestrate unnecessary anxiety and violence during the campaigning and voting period. Election stakeholders including the Uganda Police Force must demonstrate professionalism and impartiality in maintaining electoral security during this period. The Electoral Commission must dispense its mandate in a balanced and professional manner, calling each of the candidates and stakeholders to fully account for their actions/inactions.
CCEDU urges all political parties and candidates to desist from mobilising youth groups and militias to fuel fears or actualities of electoral violence. In the same breath, CCEDU calls upon government to seriously rethink its decision to utilise informal outfits including: ‘crime preventers’, ‘polling detectives’ for the purpose of providing election related security as this could further raise anxiety and possibly invite conflict, violence and chaos in the country. Ugandans have the right to vote in peace and all stakeholders are duty bound to take all necessary measures as provided in our laws to defend and protect that right.
Electoral violence and partisanship of institutions that should otherwise be guarantors of a free electoral environment are an obvious disincentive to participation in elections for both voters and those who wish to offer leadership. Ultimately, this undermines every effort at building a truly democratic country based on the supremacy of the people choosing their leaders. It also weakens state and non-state institutions that scrutinize elections, and hurt the legitimacy of the government of the day.
It is therefore, important that as the Prime Minister rightly points to opposition players in the election, government should equally urge its institutions to ensure utmost impartiality by working strictly within the ambits of the law. Local, regional and international institutions should therefore intensify working towards (timely) prevention of electoral violence ahead of the February 2016 general election in Uganda.