The Electoral Commission (EC) chairman Justice Simon Byabakama has warned National Unity Platform party presidential candidate Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi to follow election guidelines and observe the law, lest he “takes action.”
The warning follows a fruitless engagement on Tuesday between Kyagulanyi and the EC chairperson convened to end violent confrontations between opposition politicians and security agents as the Ugandans goes to polls next month.
In a statement released hours after the closed meeting held at EC headquarters today, Byabakama said Kyagulanyi made several complaints implicating security agents in several violations of rights and interfering with his campaign activities.
The EC chair says Kyagulanyi complained that his campaigns had been disrupted by security personnel who also blocked his radio programs, re-routed his movements, occasioned delays in reaching campaign venues and denied him accommodation in areas he is scheduled to hold campaigns.
In response, Byabakama said he had written to police and soon the commission will meet heads of the Uganda Police Force in view of resolving the outstanding issues concerning campaign activities.
The commission, according to Byabakama, however told Kyagulanyi that he and all other candidates are expected to respect the election guidelines, failure of which the commission would take action to ensure observance of the law.
In a press conference held after the meeting, Kyagulanyi said he would not bow to pressure until the electoral commission asserts itself to enforce the law in a non-partisan manner. Kyagulanyi dared Byabakama to rise to the occasion, or resign.
He also displayed printed photographs showing crowded supporters of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) who is also the incumbent, Yoweri Museveni, who he accuses of being shielded from the law by the EC.
Kyagulanyi further accused the Electoral Commission of trying to frustrate his campaigns by summoning him to meetings and ignoring the brutality from the police.
Museveni who has been in power for the last 34 years, is facing a new challenger in Kyagulanyi, in presidential elections set to be held on 14th January 2021.