The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Electoral Commission is to decide the next course of action following the botched consultative meeting by the Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine.
Responding to questions from journalists in a meeting with members of the Inter Religious Council of Uganda-IRCU at their offices in Mengo on Monday, the Commission Chairperson, Justice Mugenyi Simon Byabakama confirmed receiving a petition from Kyagulanyi requesting for another meeting between them and police.
Byabakama said if it wasn’t for the meeting with the IRCU they would have probably met on Monday to decide what to do with Kyagulanyi. “Its true Kyagulanyi wrote to us requesting a meeting between February 24-28 and I think we are still within that time scope. We are going to sit and deliberate on the matter and take a decision,” Byabakama said.
Speaking after appearing before Buganda Road Magistrate Court, Kyagulanyi said he had exhausted all avenues provided under the law to allow him conduct his consultations and yet police was still frustrating him. He said the continuous harassment by police is indicative of a force that has taken over the role of the Electoral Commission.
“We wrote to the Electoral Commission, we wrote to the Police and they have been making ridiculous demands. We are law abiding citizens and we intend to use the law to its depth,” Kyagulanyi said. He however added that there is a limit to their patience although he fell short of disclosing what they will do next.
“After we have done everything that we need to do, we shall be informing you of what next. This is the last step that we are on dealing with the police and the Electoral Commission. The Electoral Commission is on a test because it has been claiming to be independent. Ugandans are going to see whether the Electoral Commission is intending to hold free and fair elections,” Kyagulanyi said.
Following his failure to hold consultations in January, Kyagulanyi met Electoral Commission officials and Police commanders where they agreed on what needs to be done so that there is harmony between the three actors. When asked about whether the meeting was helpful seeing that the police are again stopping Kyagulanyi’s consultations, Byabakama said it’s the police that can best answer the question.
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