Museveni assures Uganda on security

Feb 13, 2011

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has assured all Ugandans that there will be no violence before or after the elections, adding that the state is ready to protect everybody and their property as they go out to vote.

By Francis Kagolo
and Cyprian Musoke


PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has assured all Ugandans that there will be no violence before or after the elections, adding that the state is ready to protect everybody and their property as they go out to vote.

While appearing on a talk-show on Bukedde TV and radio yesterday, the President stressed that the Police and the army were alert and competent to deal with whoever tries to cause violence.

“Some people have been urging you (the public) to buy and store enough food in preparations for violence ahead of the elections. But I want to assure you that there will be no violence because the ‘drug’ we shall administer to those who will try to cause chaos shall be enough to calm them down,” the President asserted.

During the talk-show called Akabbinkano (the tough race) and hosted by Terah Kaaya, Museveni added: “Elections will end peacefully; no person can break the law and go scot-free. We shall arrest and prosecute whoever perpetuates violence.”

He explained that the Constitution allowed the army to assist the Police in case too much violence erupted and that this will be the case if the situation gets worse during or after the elections.

Constitution allowed the army to assist the Police in case there is too much violence.

Museveni warned the different youth brigades, which were formed by political parties allegedly to guard their votes, not to tamper with the electoral process.

He said only the candidates’ agents, the Police and Electoral Commission (EC) officials would be allowed to conduct the elections and guard the votes.

Earlier in the day, the President had given similar assurances during the national peace rally and prayers for the general elections organised by the Inter-religious Council of Uganda at Kololo ceremonial grounds.

At the rally, Museveni said through organising free and fair elections, the NRM government had removed any need to resort to violence.

“Peace is built on justice. Justice means fair play. When the NRM came to power, we organised the Constituent Assembly elections of 1993 so that a Constitution agreeable to everybody could be designed,” he said.

This, he added, was different from earlier constitutions that were discussed by un-elected chiefs.
“With this Constitution, we are sure that violence will not return in the politics of Uganda because it discusses everything and can be amended,” the President said.

Amendments, he added, can be through Parliament, district councils or referenda. “There are no grounds for violence,” he said.

Earlier, the representative of the Democratic Party, Suubi Njogi, warned that if the EC does not conduct free and fair elections, there will be violence.

“The Constitution says if the elections are not free and fair, you resort to the courts because if you resort to violence, you might not get good results,” the President warned.

In the past, he added, the National Resistance Army used “disciplined violence” to restore order because there were no other avenues for discussion, yet the law had a lot of loopholes.

Museveni said many youth were not aware of Uganda’s turbulent and violent past. “The 1962 electoral law had a lot of loopholes like several ballot boxes. Each party had its own so there were multiple ballot papers, which were hidden in a polling booth and one could not see what was being done. After voting they would be transported to one collection centre during which a lot of bad things would happen,” he said.

All of these, he added, were resolved by the Constituent Assembly.
The only problem now, the President added, was multiple registration that was being sorted out through computerisation.

“This time, there should be no need for violence. If there is a problem with the results, go to court. Recently, there was an argument about people who had crossed from one party to another and somebody went to court contesting this.

“The Constitutional Court said they should quit and not stand again, but when they appealed, the Supreme Court said they can stand again pending a substantive ruling.”

The NRM, Museveni added, was ready to meet with other political parties under the inter-party dialogue to exchange ideas and learn from each other.

The President said he was happy to see the inter-religious council working together, adding that in the past, religions were hostile to each other.

“I am yet to hear that God has instructed them to fight on his behalf. When we took over power, we were able to build a strong foundation for Uganda by fighting religious wars,” he said.

One time, Museveni added, Muslims rioted in Kawempe because somebody had eaten pork.
“I wrote to the internal affaris minister, Eriya Kategaya, asking him to tell them that I am the number one promoter of piggery yet I have never eaten pork, fish or chicken,” he said.

The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, thanked the people for rejecting negative mobilisation that was done by some opposition parties against the electoral process.

He warned parties against encouraging their vigilante groups to cause violence.

“As we go to the polls, I assure you that the Police is ready to work with the Electoral Commission to ensure a free and fair elections,” said Kayihura.

The EC chairman, Eng. Badru Kiggundu, also pledged to conduct free and fair elections and prayed for peace before and after the polls.
“I promise that we shall declare the results to you 48 hours after the elections,” he said.

Uganda Human Rights Commission chief Meddie Kaggwa asked the candidates not to use hate speech which incites violence.

The Inter-Party Coalition representative, Sam Njuba, said FDC had never resorted to violence after elections.

The chairman of the inter-religious council, metropolitan Jonah Lwanga, said the prayers were a sign of commitment to peace and that the council attaches great importance to the coming elections.

Also present was the Church of Uganda Archbishop, Henry Luke Orombi, Seventh Day Adventist head pastor, John Kakembo, representatives of Mufti Shaban Mubajje, and that of Kampala Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga.

Additional reporting by Josephine Maseruka

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