The minister for information and national guidance, Judith Nabakooba expressed serious concern over the ugly scenes witnessed during the just concluded presidential nominations this week where two opposition candidates were man handled by security organs.
On the final day of nominations National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert was arrested by security organs immediately after nominations and driven to his home in Magere where security organs engaged in running battles with his supporters leaving a number of them seriously injured, hospitalized and their clothes tone.
On the same day Forum for Democratic Change candidate Hon. Patrick Amuriat Oboi was arrested at party headquarters in Najanankumbi and drove up to the nomination center in Kyambogo without shoes. Both scenes reflected a very bad image for the country on international and national level pausing fear among the population of what is going to happen in the coming polls.
Addressing a weekly news conference today at her offices in Kampala, Nabakooba urged political candidates and security organs to work hand in hand with the electoral commission to ensure that their planning and preparations in all the campaign areas are not interrupted to avert a re-occurrence of the unfortunate scenes.
“If such unfortunate scenes continue to happen in the electoral process, this then undermines the country’s democracy.” Said Nabakooba.
She further reminds the country that COVID19 is still with us and is real hence the need to religiously observe the set SOPs as we usher in the likely heated up political campaigns.
She also clarifies that the announced 14 new covid19 deaths were a cumulative for the whole week and not in a single day (Thursday 5th November) as earlier stated.
Between 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5TH November, Uganda registered 14 COVID19 deaths.
As of Friday 6th November, the number of COVID19 cases was at 14,066 AND 131 deaths with the number of cases continuing to rise, this has put pressure on the country’s health system mainly the intensive care unit.
The minister now urges presidential candidates to lead by example in the efforts to fight against the pandemic.
