Why Amuriat and Kalembe did not suspend their campaign programs

Four Presidential candidates suspended their campaign programs on Wednesday following the arrest of their colleagues Patrick Amuriat Oboi and Robert Kyagulanyi.

Kyagulanyi was detained at Nalufenya police station in Jinja while FDC’s Amuriat was later released November 18 night.

The Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) leader Maj Gen (Rtd) Gregg Mugisha Muntu immediately suspended his campaign program.

Muntu was followed by yet another general in the race under the renewed Uganda platform, Lt Gen (Rtd) Henry KakuruguTumukunde, DP’s presidential Candidate Nobert Mao and John Katumba.

The Electoral Commission Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama has since released a statement seeking the candidates to notify the EC about changes in their programs.

Patrick Amuriat Oboi continued with his campaigns after being released from police custody. He said he will not give incumbent Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni a chance to be declared unopposed as other candidates seem to suggest by suspending their programs.

Amuriat is currently scheduled to campaign in Moyo, Adjuman and Obongi as communicated by the FDC national field coordinator presidential elections 2020-2021 and Rukungiri Municipality MP Roland Kaginda Mugume.

The only Female presidential candidate in the race Nancy Kalembe said government is laying a trap to fail campaigns so that Museveni can easily maneuver, deciding to keep on with her program.

‘’We have decided not to postpone our campaign program; The gov’t is arresting fellow candidates because they are not following SOPs but it’s a technic to let us down and now, we have decided to continue but we shall be emphasizing to our audiences to practice COVID-19 guidelines,’’ Kalembe announced.

Another Candidate, Joseph Kabuleta, insists that suspending campaign program is to give Museveni a chance to win the election smoothly instead of the opposition tightening up the struggle to see him out.

Kabuleta advised the opposition to pick lessons from four-time President Museveni’s Col (Rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye’s struggles with the regime so as to keep focused rather than leaving the ball to Museveni.