Electoral Commission intervenes in Kyagulanyi arrest

The Electoral Commission is in talks with government authorities over the arrest of presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi over the allegations that he breached the COVID-19 standard operating procures in regard to campaigns.

In a statement issued on Thursday evening, by the Electoral Commission's chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, he noted: "The Electoral Commission has taken note of the arrest of presidential candidate Kyagulanyi Robert Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform (NUP) party, allegedly for violating the guidelines issued regarding the conduct of presidential campaign meetings."

"The Electoral Commission has taken up the matter of the arrest of candidate Kyagulanyi with the relevant authorities. Accordingly, we appeal to the public to remain calm and restrain from engaging in acts of lawlessness that may result in the destruction of property and loss of life, as already witnessed," Byabakama added in the statement.

"The Commission has also noted media statements indicating that some Presidential Candidates have suspended their campaign programmes as a result of the above arrest. We wish to advise any such candidates to officially address the changes in their respective campaign programmes to the Electoral Commission," Byabakama said.

As of today, 16 people are reported to be have been killed in riots and 65 injured. More so, the Police has arrested 350 people in connection to the riots which rocked mostly urban areas on Wednesday.

In the meantime, the Commission cautioned all candidates to desist from holding their campaigns in a manner that violates the guidelines set forth.

"We reiterate that it is a violation of the Campaign Guidelines for a candidate and his/her agents to mobilize and/or encourage supporters to gather at campaign venues in large numbers in contravention of The Public Health (Control of COVID-19) (Amendment No.3) Rules, 2020, issued on 9th November 2020, which provides that gatherings for purposes of political meetings should not exceed two hundred (200) persons," adds the statement.

Byabakama added that it is against the guidelines to conduct and/or participate in processions and/or hold campaign meetings in non-designated venues as per the harmonised campaign programme.

"We wish to urge candidates and their supporters to always observe the standard operating procedures that were put in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Continued violation of the guidelines may attract cancellation of the campaign programme."