Kayihura gives poll guides to security officers
Feb 01, 2011
POLICE chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura yesterday launched guidelines for law enforcement officials during elections, imposing criminal and personal liability on officers for misconduct.
By Nicholas O’neal
POLICE chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura yesterday launched guidelines for law enforcement officials during elections, imposing criminal and personal liability on officers for misconduct.
“Law enforcement officials who contravene the law and the disciplinary code, through criminal or professional misconduct during the elections shall be held accountable, and be made criminally liable,†the guidelines read in part.
The guidelines are binding to the Police, army, prisons and other security operatives.
Launched at the Electoral Commission offices in Kampala, the guide, hitherto referred to as the security code of conduct, calls on security personnel to be neutral and desist from showing inclination to any candidate or political side.
It bars a security person from being a founder, promoter or member of a political party, holding office in a political organisation, publishing anything involving matters of a particular political party.
The code also bars security personnel from canvassing support for a political party or a candidate. It places a penalty of a fine or/ and imprisonment of up to one year for contravention of the provisions.
The guidelines further bar law enforcement officers from participating in partisan politics, influencing voters and calls on them to accord equal treatment to all parties.
It also urges them to protect electoral offices and infrastructure and polling stations, in addition to ensuring a free and safe movement of election materials.
Kayihura was flanked by Electoral Commission chairman Eng. Badru Kiggundu and army spokesperson Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye.
Brigit Gerstenberg, a representative of the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the guidelines were important in ensuring free and fair elections.
POLICE chief Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura yesterday launched guidelines for law enforcement officials during elections, imposing criminal and personal liability on officers for misconduct.
“Law enforcement officials who contravene the law and the disciplinary code, through criminal or professional misconduct during the elections shall be held accountable, and be made criminally liable,†the guidelines read in part.
The guidelines are binding to the Police, army, prisons and other security operatives.
Launched at the Electoral Commission offices in Kampala, the guide, hitherto referred to as the security code of conduct, calls on security personnel to be neutral and desist from showing inclination to any candidate or political side.
It bars a security person from being a founder, promoter or member of a political party, holding office in a political organisation, publishing anything involving matters of a particular political party.
The code also bars security personnel from canvassing support for a political party or a candidate. It places a penalty of a fine or/ and imprisonment of up to one year for contravention of the provisions.
The guidelines further bar law enforcement officers from participating in partisan politics, influencing voters and calls on them to accord equal treatment to all parties.
It also urges them to protect electoral offices and infrastructure and polling stations, in addition to ensuring a free and safe movement of election materials.
Kayihura was flanked by Electoral Commission chairman Eng. Badru Kiggundu and army spokesperson Lt. Col. Felix Kulayigye.
Brigit Gerstenberg, a representative of the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the guidelines were important in ensuring free and fair elections.