Police on Thursday 12th November blocked presidential candidate Nancy Kalembe from launching her manifesto on grounds that she was not supposed to carry out campaigns in Jinja city.
Kalembe was scheduled to launch her manifesto in Jinja town on Monday but she postponed it to Thursday. However, officials argue that they had not received any official communication confirming the changes.
In a three-hour closed-door meeting with Kalembe, electoral commission officials together with the Jinja city security committee members cleared her to hold a private meeting with her voters away from the official campaign program.
Emanuel Mastiko, the Kira region election officer told journalists that presidential candidates cause a standstill within the city which warrants suspension of other campaigning activities, therefore it requires enough time to harmonize their programs with activities of the local political players.
Mastiko further advised presidential candidates to adhere to the set Ministry of Health Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to control the spread of covid-19.
The Electoral Commission has also condemned Kalembe for altering her scheduled campaign program without informing them.
Ms Kalembe is the only female in the 2021 Presidential Election. She is tussling it out with 10 other men including the incumbent President Museveni, DP’s Norbert Mao, FDC’s Patrick Amuriat Oboi, ANT’s Gen. Mugisha Muntu and NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi among others.
