Religious leaders cautioned against discriminating candidates

POLITICS|RELIGION|DISCRIMINATION|ELECTIONS

IBANDA - Aspirants for constituencies and lower local councils in Ibanda district should desist from using abusive and threatening language as they canvass for votes in the party primaries.

Ibanda Resident District Commissioner Eliasto Tukamuheebwa said the vices are a recipe for electoral violence.

"I want to warn all aspiring candidates, their agents and supporters to desist from using abusive language as they look for votes. Whoever is caught will be dealt with.

"I also advise supporters of different candidates to avoid engaging in arguments that can lead to fights," Tukamuheebwa said in an interview.

Observe COVID-19 SOPs

Tukamuheebwa also urged politicians and their supporters to observe the COVID-19 standard operating procedures at meetings or while canvassing for votes door-to-door.

He said with the rate at which coronavirus community infections are going up in some parts of the country, people need to take extra care during the election period.

Keep religion out of elections

Relatedly, the Ibanda NRM district registrar, Moses Arimwerenga, has cautioned religious leaders against discriminating against candidates as they look for votes during the scientific campaigns.

This followed complaints by one of the aspiring candidates for the Ibanda district Woman MP seat, Margaret Kiboijana, that some religious leaders in Kigunga, Rukiri sub-county were allegedly "going around sowing seeds of disunity among Christians, urging them not to support candidates from a different denomination".

Citing the 1996 general elections, Arimwerenga said one of the aspirants was deemed not to be a "strong" believer by some church, which discouraged its faithful from voting for the candidate.

"What if you say someone is not worthy and they win, how will you work with them as a religious leader? I encourage you not to mix religion and elections for obvious reasons.

"We do not want to see a situation where the electorate starts ganging up against each other because of religion," Arimwerenga warned. He advised candidates and supporters to use acceptable language and methods while canvassing for votes.

"Tell the electorate why you are seeking their mandate and what you will do for them, but leave religion out of it," Arimwerenga added.