Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has appealed to supporters of Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and other presidential candidates to refrain from engaging in violent protests, telling them there would be life after the 2021 elections.
Violent protests in the capital Kampala and other urban areas have left about 20 people dead, others injured and hundreds arrested.
Riots continued on November 19, with protesters burning car tyres to block roads.
The speaker noted she was saddened by the ongoing chaos.
Kadaga has now appealed for calm, reminding Ugandans they need to be alive to vote and continue with their lives.
“And to all fellow Ugandans out there, I wish to inform you that there’s life after elections,” she said.
“Uganda belongs to each and everyone of us and the ongoing electoral processes should not come in between us but rather should unite us for a common good and a better Uganda, today, tomorrow and for eternity.”
She also asked Bobi Wine to tell his supporters to refrain from acts of violence.
“I therefore call upon all candidates to appeal to their supporters, to exercise restraint from indulging in detestable activities, which may result in the loss of lives and property as well as livelihoods,” she appealed.
The speaker further asked security agencies “to execute their duties and responsibilities as enshrined in the various legal regimes establishing them, while at the same time exercising restraint from violating human rights.”
Kadaga has also blamed the Electoral Commission (EC) for failing to sensitise Ugandans about scientific elections.
“It is crystal clear that the ongoing demonstrations and related matters are a direct replica of inadequate civic education conducted by the Electoral Commission,” Kadaga noted.
“I wish to appeal to the Electoral Commission, as the body constitutionally mandated to manage electoral processes in the country, to institute all mechanisms possible to ensure adequate civic education which would deter the citizenry from engaging in such destructive behavior.”
