Security has been beefed up around Kampala and Police heavily deployed in the City and at the Electoral Commission (EC) offices this morning ahead of National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer Robert Kyagulanyi’s meeting with the EC Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama.
The army and military armored vehicles have today been spotted roaming the city in anticipation of processions by the presidential candidate.
EC Chairperson, Justice Byabakama, agreed to meet with the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu at 11:00 am to discuss his harassment by security forces on his campaign trail.
The meeting comes after Kyagulanyi suspended his campaigns yesterday, 1st December 2020, pending a meeting with the Electoral Commission boss Byabakama after being blocked in Kayunga.
Byabakama today morning urged the presidential candidate to limit his entourage to 5 people and make sure there are no processions. The two scheduled to meet to discuss the brutality of security forces and his continued blocking from accessing campaign venues.
Kyagulanyi was blocked yesterday in Kayunga where police fired teargas bullets in a bid to disperse his supporters, injuring several including his personal body guard assigned to him by the EC and his long time musical producer and friend Dan Magic.
Bobi Wine, who had decided to proceed with his campaign to Jinja from Kayunga was again blocked and his car tyres shot to prevent him from going forward with his processions in the city.
“We have been brutalised and killed but the EC has continuously remained silent on these matters. Do they want me killed before they come out? Are they even in charge of this election or they are hoodwinking Ugandans?” Bobi Wine said after being blocked in Jinja.
The spokesperson for the Electoral Commission, Paul Bukenya, said Kyagulanyi’s request to meet the EC shows that he acknowledges there is a higher power in charge of the electoral process and promised that the EC would meet the NUP candidate to discuss a way forward.
“Mr. Kyagulanyi is a registered candidate and he is free to come and express himself on any issues as long as he is not comfortable. It is unfortunate that the police are acting this way but our means have always been on engaging the stakeholders,” Mr Bukenya said.
