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Ruhaama by-election: Do not over deploy, EC tells police
Justice Simon Byabakama holds the constitution to make a point during the pre-election meeting at Ntunagmo District council hall on Wednesday evening. PHOTO BY PEREZ RUMANZI
What you need to know:
- Ruhaama County goes to polls today to choose a replacement for the fallen MP Mr. William Beijukye Zinkurateire.
- Four candidates are contesting in the race including the NRM’s Mr Moses Mugabe Kahima, and independent candidates, Dr. Peninah Beinomugisha Jambo, Ms Vastine Orishaba and Eng Jackson Mubangizi Kabikire.
The Electoral Commission chairman, Justice Simon Byabakama has asked police to limit deployment at polling stations in today’s Ruhaama County by-election.
Justice Byabakama said police should not to take the election as a security operation where they cordon, search and stop everyone to ask where they are going. According to him, his would not make people feel free to vote.
Speaking during the pre-election meeting for election stakeholders in Ruhaama at Ntungamo District Council hall on Wednesday evening, Mr Byabakama said at times too much security presence may be interpreted for intimidation of voters with some people scared of accessing polling stations for voting.
“The electoral commission cannot single handedly conduct a free and fair election, we need all stakeholders. Security deployment in an electoral process should not take all the appearance of the security clampdown; such that the voters fear moving, we don’t want the voters of Ruhaama to say this is a security operation therefore you get out at your own risk. No, it should be visible but not so assertive to the extent that a voter thinks that it’s an operation. The Uganda police at least we have not seen them do that in the elections we have conducted, they should let people move freely. ” Justice Byabakama said responding to questions on heavy police deployment in the election.
He noted that public and security officials who may have defied the campaign process and went against the rules of the game need to be taken up by the law and held individually liable since they are formally not allowed either to campaign or participate in political activities during the election time. Their participation may lead to cancellation of results after the candidates they campaign form happens to win an election.
The meeting was attended by two of the four candidates in the race for Ruhaama MP, electoral officials, police, the Resident District Commissioner and other security officers.
Commissioner Mr Steven Tashobya said the current electoral commission has established due credibility of conducting free and fair elections with all the 15 elections and by-elections held by the commission attracting no legal battle in courts of law.
Ruhaama County goes to polls today to choose a replacement for the fallen MP Mr. William Beijukye Zinkurateire.
Four candidates are contesting in the race including the NRM’s Mr Moses Mugabe Kahima, and independent candidates, Dr. Peninah Beinomugisha Jambo, Ms Vastine Orishaba and Eng Jackson Mubangizi Kabikire.
