Africa-Press – Uganda. POLITICS 2021 ELECTIONS
National Unity Platform presidential aspirant, Robert Kyagulanyi risks sanctions from the Electoral Commission (EC) after he continuously defied the election guidelines in respect to COVID-19.
Sources in the Electoral Commission on Wednesday noted that the Commission was set to meet and discuss what action it should take after Kyagulanyi continued with his processions shortly after he left the Commission on Tuesday on his way to Western Uganda despite a warning from EC Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi. On Tuesday, Justice Byabakama directed Kyagulanyi to desist from holding mass rallies and processions, contrary to the established guidelines and risking the lives of the people.In a statement released on Tuesday following a meeting between Kyagulanyi and the EC, Justice Byabakama noted that “going forward Kyagulanyi and other candidates were expected to follow the election guidelines and respect the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), failure of which the commission would take action to ensure observance of the law.”It, however, remains unclear what actions EC would take on Kyagulanyi but sources noted that these could among others include cancellation of candidature or suspension from holding rallies.The Tuesday meeting was as a result of Friday summons issued to Kyagulanyi by EC reminding him of the engagements they had held with him together with NUP officials in regard to their campaign activity.”As you may be aware, in response to the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Health issued Regulation to manage the said pandemic,” Byabakama reminded Kyagulanyi.He noted that the EC while issuing the Electoral guidelines and after consulting with the Ministry of Health, “adopted the measures provided in the Regulations to control the spread of the disease which were issued to all the stakeholders intending to participate in the General election activities.””In spite of what the Commission communicated in the above-stated meeting and the press communication on the matter, you have continued to ignore and or neglected observing the SOPs by holding mass rallies and processions, contrary to the established guidelines thereby risking the lives of the people. In the process, this has resulted in an unwarranted occasional confrontation with security,” Byabakama noted.Senior security sources who spoke to the New Vision noted that they planned to petition the commission to act. “On Tuesday shortly after his motor vehicles left the Commission to Western Uganda, Kyagulanyi openly defied the guidelines and openly waved at his supporters who followed him in a procession and that is now our concern. It’s open defiance,” the police source noted.Health Ministry is worried that if the current trend of populist politics from politicians who are disobeying the established guidelines continues, then the number of COVID-19 infections is set to rise.As of December 15, Uganda’s cumulative confirmed cases stand at 28,733 and 225 COVID-19 deaths.
