IGP Warns Instigators of Election Chaos

The Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, has warned against acts of hooliganism and violations of traffic laws and regulations ahead of next week’s nomination of presidential candidates. 

Byakagaba, in a message released on Thursday, said police and sister security agencies have prepared for the electoral process and warned that anyone who goes against laws governing the country will be dealt with appropriately. 

“As we go into the electoral process, we remind you that the laws will not be in abeyance. We urge political actors to exercise their rights within the confines of the law,” Byakagaba said. 

Presidential nominations will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. President Yoweri Museveni’s biggest challenger in the 2021 presidential election, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, will be nominated on Tuesday.

Bobi Wine, who will again stand on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket, came second in 2021 with a 35% score, while Museveni, who will have been in power for four decades next year, emerged winner with 5a 8% score. 

Byakagaba has also warned against acts of election malpractice. He has urged Ugandans to be ambassadors of peace throughout the electoral cycle.

“We ask you to be vigilant, exercise tolerance and be ambassadors of peace. Our channels of communication will be available to receive alerts from anyone,” IGP Byakagaba said. 

During the 2020 presidential nominations, police and military unleashed all sorts of violence against NUP candidate Bobi Wine and FDC’s candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat. 

Amuriat was nominated barefoot, while Bobi Wine and his crew returned to their homes with torn trousers and shirts. The entire campaign process, mainly for Bobi Wine and Amuriat, was largely characterised by violence. The violence climaxed on November 18 and 19 when security forces shot and killed 54 people protesting against the arrest of Bobi Wine. 

Bobi Wine was arrested at a campaign rally in Luuka district by police commanded by Frank Mwesigwa and who is now the director police operations service. This sparked protests in Buganda and Busoga, which forced the police and military to opt for live bullets.

In order to prevent the repeat of 2021, the IGP instructed public order management refresher trainings at all regional, division and district headquarters. These trainings have mainly been attended by the Field Force Unit (FFU), which is known for quashing protests.

Throughout the public order management refresher trainings, police officers have been cautioned against using live bullets as the first option for containing protests. 

Although the minister for justice and constitution affairs, Nobert Mao, has said next year’s elections will be the most peaceful, there are already concerns after UPDF insisted that all presidential candidates will be guarded by SFC. 

The Electoral Commission’s Spokesperson, Julius Mucunguzi, said every successfully nominated presidential candidate will be provided with a patrol vehicle with armed police guards. However, UPDF Spokesperson Maj Gen Felix Kulayigye said presidential candidates are VIPs who will be guarded by SFC.