NRM should deal with poll violence, say rights activists

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) should redeem its image by ensuring in-house credible elections, the National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, has said.

The organisation further said failure by the NRM to respond to post-party polls petitions could spill over into the general election.

The National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders are concerned that the NRM elections held from September 4 to 11 registered many incidents of violence and 378 petitions from losers, some of whom are ministers.

Seek peace

Robert Kirenga, the executive director of the organisation, said NRM should observe peace even if they disagree. He called on contenders not to involve the security forces in partisan politics.

He said the violence has not spared human rights defenders and it has affected ability of electoral observers to meaningfully undertake their work to observe elections citing the recent arrest of land rights promoters in Kiryadongo on orders of the district Police commander, Joseph Bakaleke.

Amend legislation

Edward Serucaca, an advocacy officer called for an amendment of the Public Order Management Act, to bring it in conformity with human rights standards.

He said section 8 of the Act that provides for powers of the Police officers to stop or prevent the holding of public meetings with powers to order and enforce dispersal of public meetings.

Serucaca said such similar powers under the Police Act were declared unconstitutional in the case of Moses Mwandha verses Attorney General and Muwanga Kivumbi verses Attorney General by the Constitutional Court.

The activists want Parliament to expedite the enactment of the Human Rights Defenders Bill.

Gulu Municipality MP Lyandro Komakech sought permission to table the Bill.

The Bills seeks to protect Human Rights Defenders from abuse, guaranteeing their including regulating their activities and providing them with effective remedy and clear enforcement mechanisms to seek redress and protect their work.