Candidates asked to avoid violence
Dec 20, 2010
THE Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) and the Police have asked all political aspirants to shun violence during campaigns.
By Jeff lule
THE Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) and the Police have asked all political aspirants to shun violence during campaigns.
The project co-odinator, Crispy Kaheru, said the campaign tension was expected to heighten since parliamentary candidates had also started to campaign. He was addressing journalists at the Foundation for Human Rights Offices in Kampala yesterday.
“We appreciate the calmness shown during the presidential campaigns. We commend our Police force,†Kaheru said.
“All candidates should condemn acts of violence because they can escalate and spread to other parts of the country,†he advised.
Kaheru said they were dismayed by the few cases of violence which had taken place since campaigns started a month ago.
He cited the Police confrontations with presidential candidate Abed Bwanika in Masaka and Lira districts, the physical assault on the Kampala Woman MP candidate, Carol Nantongo, and the beating of mayoral candidate Erias Lukwago’s supporters.
Kaheru urged the public to use the Uganda watch hotline, 6090, to send messages and report cases of electoral violence and malpractice.
Speaking at the same briefing, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Ibin Senkumbi, said the Police were prepared to handle the situation.
Senkumbi noted that since the campaigns started, Kampala had recorded 20 cases of destruction, five of intimidation and threats and six cases of physical violence.
CCEDU is non-profit broad civil society coalition that brings together 600 civil society organisations to advocate for comprehensive electoral democracy in Uganda.
THE Citizens’ Coalition for Electoral Democracy in Uganda (CCEDU) and the Police have asked all political aspirants to shun violence during campaigns.
The project co-odinator, Crispy Kaheru, said the campaign tension was expected to heighten since parliamentary candidates had also started to campaign. He was addressing journalists at the Foundation for Human Rights Offices in Kampala yesterday.
“We appreciate the calmness shown during the presidential campaigns. We commend our Police force,†Kaheru said.
“All candidates should condemn acts of violence because they can escalate and spread to other parts of the country,†he advised.
Kaheru said they were dismayed by the few cases of violence which had taken place since campaigns started a month ago.
He cited the Police confrontations with presidential candidate Abed Bwanika in Masaka and Lira districts, the physical assault on the Kampala Woman MP candidate, Carol Nantongo, and the beating of mayoral candidate Erias Lukwago’s supporters.
Kaheru urged the public to use the Uganda watch hotline, 6090, to send messages and report cases of electoral violence and malpractice.
Speaking at the same briefing, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Ibin Senkumbi, said the Police were prepared to handle the situation.
Senkumbi noted that since the campaigns started, Kampala had recorded 20 cases of destruction, five of intimidation and threats and six cases of physical violence.
CCEDU is non-profit broad civil society coalition that brings together 600 civil society organisations to advocate for comprehensive electoral democracy in Uganda.