AIGP Edward Ochom– director operations Uganda Police says joint security agencies have spent considerable time planning for the nominations and are confident about countering all forms of threats and security hazards(Photo/Courtesy)
Security agencies and Electoral Commission (EC) have issued tight rules for presidential nominations today to ensure the aspirants do not hold processions and get exposed to coronavirus.
Security agencies said they will pick presidential aspirants from their homes and escort them to the EC nomination centre at Kyambogo University.
The EC said aspirants without Covid-19 test certificates will not be allowed at the nomination centre but added that they can be nominated in absentia if their seconders and nominators have certificates showing negative for Covid-19.
The security agencies are also planning to escort presidential candidates back to their homes immediately after nomination as they did to Opposition parliamentary candidates.
The Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Ms Judith Nabakooba, said all candidates and the few agreed upon nominees will be escorted to the EC nomination centre.
Presidential nomination starts with incumbent Yoweri Museveni, Lt Gen Tumukunde, Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, Mr John Katumba and Ms Nancy Linda Kalembe today.
The EC said each aspirant will be allowed 10 people, who have tested negative for coronavirus and to accompany them to the nomination centre.
The EC chairman, Justice Simon Byabakama, said three of the people who were supposed to accompany their aspirants, tested positive for coronavirus.
The Ministry of Health guidelines indicate that their contacts must be isolated for at least a week and then tested to prove whether they are negative. He did not reveal the names.
The blocking of many roads and control of traffic to allow smooth travel of aspirants to the nomination centre is expected to trigger congestion in the city, which might make it hard for law enforcement agencies to effectively stop gatherings, which Ms Nabakooba said are likely to lead to the spread of coronavirus.
The Forum for Democratic Change presidential flag bearer, Mr. Patrick Amuriat, who is to be nominated tomorrow, said he will defy EC guidelines.
He called up all supporters to escort him to Kyambogo.
The National Unity Platform presidential flag bearer, Mr. Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, is expected tomorrow and many of his supporters say they will escort him to the nomination centre and back.
Police yesterday said they will use all lawful means to ensure there will be no procession during nomination period and thereafter.
During the parliamentary nominations, police rounded up Opposition candidates as soon as they were cleared and drove them back to their homes.
However, candidates of the ruling NRM party held processions as police and other security agencies watched.
Mr. Edward Ochom, the police director of operations, said if the aspirants defy the EC and police guidelines, they will be arrested and detained.
“We don’t expect anyone to defy the guidelines. If you do it, you are doing it at your own peril. We have enough officers to deploy everywhere,” Mr. Ochom said.
“For those political actors and groups that are still defiant and mobilising boda boda riders and militias onto the streets and ferrying supporters from upcountry for illegal processions and rallies, we are closely monitoring them,” he added.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said they will raid lodges around Kyambogo, Banda and Kireka townships to arrest people who want to gather in the morning to hold processions.
Often presidential candidates show their political support on the day they are nominated by rallying supporters into big crowds. The government said this will not be allowed.
