Main opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat has argued that his fellow contestant Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP) didn’t have to meet Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama over police brutality.
On December 02, Bobi Wine and NUP top officials met Byabakama and his EC team at the elections management body’s headquarters in Kampala.
The previous day, Bobi Wine had announced suspension of his campaigns to meeting the EC boss after chaotic scenes in Kayunga resulted in injuries.
The injured included his confidant Producer Daniel Oyerwot aka Dan Magic, his security guard ASP Wilfred Kubai Kato and and Nazigo Market vendor Justine Bukirwa.
In his meeting with the EC, Bobi Wine presented photographs showing how security agencies have harassed the NUP campaign team and the party’s supporters.
Byabakama pledged to investigate Bobi Wine’s claims and address them to relevant agencies.
Recently, the EC boss wrote to IGP Martins Okoth Ochola asking him to rein in his officers to stop blocking campaign meetings.
“This is, therefore, to urge you to facilitate the smooth actualization of this electoral activity, and ensure that there is no disruption and/or blocking of the harmonized campaign program,” he wrote to the police chief at the end of last month.
Ochola wrote back demanding details.
“Reference is made to your letter dated November 26, 2020; in which you informed me that the Electoral Commission is in receipt of complaints from some Presidential Candidates and has also read press reports alleging police disruption of candidates scheduled meetings,” IGP Ochola responded to EC chairperson Byabakama.
“Unfortunately, neither the candidates’ names nor the dates, and other necessary particulars of the alleged disruption are mentioned in your letter to enable us respond to the allegations. We shall be in a position to make specific response to the allegations once the particulars are made know to us.”
Now, Amuriat says Bobi Wine shouldn’t have spent his time with Byabakama’s EC. The defiant FDC politician claims Byabakama is in bed with incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni, and tirelessly aiding a plan to frustrate the opposition.
“Going to the Electoral Commission is just a waste of time, in my view: it serves no purpose because you are going to the tormentor,” Amuriat said on December 02 in Mbarara.
“Honorable Kyagulanyi should know that Byabakama is under instructions to do what he is doing, to turn a blind eye to whatever excesses the regime is meting on candidates; this is deliberate.”
