Mbarara MP aspirants want escorts

Dec 06, 2010

CANDIDATES contesting for parliamentary seats in Mbarara district have demanded for Police escorts to guard them during campaigns.

By Abdulkarim Ssengendo

CANDIDATES contesting for parliamentary seats in Mbarara district have demanded for Police escorts to guard them during campaigns.

The request was made by Karugaba Kikaraya at a harmonization meeting for candidates held at the office of Electoral Commission in Mbarara on Friday.

Kikaraya, who represented Urban Tibamanya, the state minister for urban development, said that parliamentary candidates need security because they move to many places.

Tibamanya is fighting to regain his Kashari MP seat.

Responding to the point, the south western regional police commander, Raymond Otim said the candidates were too many and Police could not afford to give each of them escorts.

“I want to be frank with you: it is not possible for all candidates in the country to be given escorts because you are too many,” he said.

Otim said only candidates holding big positions in government, like ministers, would be given escorts. He said the Police were on alert to rescue any candidate in case of trouble.

He cautioned candidates against hooliganism and urged them to command their supporters to behave well during campaigns.

Otim also warned candidates to cease reckless driving during campaigns.

He warned that any negative conduct would lead to arrest and prosecution of perpetrators.

The district Police commander, Simon Peter Wafana, said there would be no tolerance for malicious acts like destroying other candidates’ posters.

Mbarara district returning officer Dan Kamusime, who also attended the function advised independent candidates to stop associating themselves with colors and posters of political parties, saying it would mislead the electorate.

“If you chose to be independent, why should you have to associate yourself with colors of a party you don’t belong to?” he asked.

Michael Tusiime, an independent candidate for Mbarara municipality wondered why candidates are barred from identifying themselves with political parties or candidates yet they are voters.

“I don’t find it a crime to identify myself with a party or candidate I support,” he said.

There are 20 Parliamentary candidates in Mbarara district, five from Mbarara municipality, six for Kashari County, Six for Rwampara and three for Mbarara district woman MP.

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