EC Wants More Police In Kabale, Ntungamo

By Allan TuryagumaThe electoral commission has requested for a heavy deployment of police in Ntungamo and Kabale districts to curb possible violence during the election of the LC5 chairpersons and councillors tomorrow.The southwestern regional police commander, Edward Ochom, said on Monday that after detecting signs of imminent violence in the two districts, the Electoral Commission had officially asked for more security personnel.Ochom said he had put his officers and men on the alert and anybody who tried to interfere with the electoral process would be apprehended.“We have been on the ground and in places where we anticipate chaos, we shall deploy anti-riot police,” he said.He said much as other districts in the region like Bushenyi and Kisoro are expected to have peaceful elections, they could not take chances, so a considerable number of police officers had been deployed there as well.Ntungamo district was hit by election violence following the 1998 LC5 polls in which Patrick Buriiku lost to John Karazaarwe in a fierce race that forced a heavy deployment of the army in the area.Karazaarwe, who is seeking re-election, is now facing two opponents, Hannington Kakyoni and Vincent Rutagonya.The campaigns in Kabale district have been characterised by violent clashes between supporters of the incumbent chairman, Dr. Francis Runumi, and his sole rival, Adson Kakuru.Last week, Runumi was booed and stoned at a rally held at Rwamucuucu by Kakuru’s supporters and was only rescued by the Police.Ends