Police deploy in Buikwe as poll nears

Apr 28, 2008

FOLLOWING reports of insecurity ahead of Wednesday’s by-election in Buikwe South, Mukono district, the police have deployed heavily and warned people planning to cause violence.

By Herbert Ssempogo

FOLLOWING reports of insecurity ahead of Wednesday’s by-election in Buikwe South, Mukono district, the police have deployed heavily and warned people planning to cause violence.

“We have received information of intended acts of criminality or insecurity to undermine the holding of free, fair and non violent elections,” acting Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba said in a statement yesterday.

“On election day, all polling stations shall have adequate security. Apart from the agents of the candidates and the observers (occasionally), no other person is expected to be in the inner ring of the station.”

The Police have also intensified patrols to ensure that the electoral laws were not violated through bribery and voter intimidation, the spokesperson stated, giving guidelines to ensure smooth elections.

“We don’t expect movement of candidates’ agents at night in the guise of distributing appointment letters. This exercise should be conducted in broad day light,” Nabakooba stressed.

The race pits Anthony Mukasa, the candidate for the ruling NRM party against DP’s Dr. Lulume Bayiga, his strongest challenger and four others.

The seat fell vacant when the Supreme Court upheld a High Court ruling which nullified Mukasa’s election after finding him guilty of bribing voters during the 2006 polls.

Nabakooba said they would set up a complaints desk which will be run by senior Police officers, to address all issues raised by the candidates or their supporters.

After the end of the campaign period on Monday (yesterday), no candidate was expected to continue soliciting for votes, Nabakooba warned.

She added that anybody found bribing voters would pay a sh1.4m fine or be jailed for three years while those who “induce” non-eligible people to vote would pay a fine of over sh900,000, serve two years in jail or both.

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