Africa-Press – Uganda. Opposition leaders, under their umbrella body, Unity in Diversity (UID), have raised concern over the massive deployment of the army in Kampala and surrounding areas.
The groups say the timing is still questionable as the country prepares for the presidential election, slated for Thursday next week.
They say the deployment is likely to intimidate and create fear among the people.
President Yoweri Museveni explained that the deployment of army officers to oversee security in Kampala and the surrounding areas is intended to avert violence during the elections.
Maj. Gen. Kayanja Muhanga, 56, is the new co-ordinator of joint security operations in Kampala Metropolitan Area. The appointment thrusts him at the centre of all Police, military, and intelligence operations as the country heads into elections.
In his new role, Muhanga will report directly to the Commander-in-Chief, President Museveni.
However, veteran politician Dr. Paul Kawanga Ssemogerere said: “The army has taken over the city, which is not its role, according to the Constitution.”
This was during a stakeholders’ meeting for UID forum for political parties, political formation, and presidential candidates at Hotel Africana in Kampala on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by leaders from various political parties.
Ssemogerere, the former president general of the Democratic Party (DP), said the military is not supposed to engage in the management of elections, adding that they can only be called upon during state of emergencies.
“Let the military do its professional work of taking care of the people and to ensure that the country is not attacked by foreign countries. The military should not be given the burden of taking up the responsibilities of the incumbent leader,” he said.
Ssemogerere urged all opposition leaders to unite in a bid to foster a change of leadership in the country.
Four-time presidential candidate Dr Kizza Besigye underscored the urgency of implementing their objectives, saying they are running out of time for elections.
“Let’s co-ordinate efforts in 146 districts and over 350 constituencies because we need a lot of resources for it,” he said.
Besigye, however, said his worry is that some opposition leaders appear to be contented working individually.
“I have experience in presidential elections. We have districts in Karamoja, where getting the declaration of results forms is not easy and some hard-to-reach areas, where rigging is the order of the day,” he stated.
Besigye rallied opposition leaders to coordinate efforts that can lead to change.
The leaders said they are committed to providing Ugandans with a new political order and a government based on constitutionalism, with a functioning multiparty system that will respect the rights of all citizens, uphold their dignity and promote national unity.
They said President Museveni’s regime has engaged in a pattern of gross human rights violations, militarised the presidential electoral process, and muzzled the Electoral Commission under the pretext of controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wycliff Bakandondo, who read out the joint statement, observed that security operatives have arbitrarily arrested and detained opposition presidential candidates and used live ammunitions and tear gas to disperse opposition campaign rallies.
“The scheme aims to maintain political power by force and by subverting the democratic will of the people and the constitutional framework and order,” he said.
The joint opposition forces have pledged to deliver democracy, constitutionalism, and unity.
With a view to maximise winning opportunities against the NRM in the forthcoming elections, the joint opposition forces have set up an oversight platform and are using technology and resources to ensure vote protection and a transparent tallying process across the country.
“In so doing, all agents, task team, and voters shall be encouraged to use their mobile phones and other related technologies during polling and tallying processes to facilitate information gathering,” Bakandondo said.
The joint opposition forces said they will document various acts of human rights violations and solicit an independent international inquiry to investigate all aspects of human rights violations committed during the election period.
The Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, said the Public Wage Bill has increased from sh18b to sh36b because of too many elected leaders. This is equivalent to a budget for three districts, hence a waste of taxpayers’ money.
