Amuriat wraps up campaign in Bugisu

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS

After a successful Thursday in the first half of campaign in Bugisu sub-region in the districts of Manafwa, Namisindwa and Bududa, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Patrick Oboi Amuriat on Friday campaigned in Sironko, Bulambuli and Mbale city.

Before setting for the campaign trail, Amuriat first held a press conference at Mountain Inn in Mbale. He talked about his day's programme and the upcoming campaign in the Karamoja sub-region.

While conversing for votes for the second day in Bugisu, Amuriat emphasised on embracing coffee growing and food for cash and consumption. He promised to increase the budget for agriculture.

During this year's budget reading, the sector received a 0.3% (sh3.6b) increment to last year's sh1.2trillion allocation, which the farmers say is so small. Farmers argued that the sector needs at least a 10% increment to try and work towards agro-industrialization, job creation, and social welfare.

Agriculture is recognised by the government as a source of growth, employment, and poverty eradication by 2040 and contributes 22.5% to the National Gross product, according to statistics. 

Teargas in Bulambuuli

While on his way to Bulambuuli, Amuriat made a stopover prompting the police to fire teargas dispersing his supporters.

Amuriat made a stopover on his way to Bulambuuli which prompted police to fire teargas that ended up affecting a goat that had been tied to graze. Although the police dispersed Amuriat's supporters at every attempted stopover, at Mutufu trading centre in Budadiri constituency, Sironko district, his rally went on without any disruption.

Upon arriving at Bumanza playground, in Budadiri, he was received with excitement; his supporters the Gisu dance (Akadodi) as they waited to listen to his address.

However, the honeymoon was over when he tried holding another rally in Budadiri town centre; the Police swung in action and teargassed the crowds dispersing them.

Reaction to EC summon

The Electoral Commission (EC) on Friday summoned presidential aspirants the National Unity Platform's (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi and FDC's Amuriat over breach of election guidelines and the Standard Operating Procedures aimed at controlling the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

Through FDC's Secretary-General Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the party denied allegations. He said unless the EC adds them more time to campaign, they are not willing to report to them.

Raid on Hotel Kaanos

In the evening of Friday, as Amuriat and his team retired from a long days work at Hotel Kaanos Complex, in Mbale city, the Police raided the premises. They claimed to be looking for his driver whom they accused of knocking a police patrol vehicle.

"There is no rally here, i don't understand what kind of election this is. This kind of bad treatment is still going on, we intend to spend our night here but we have been surrounded yet we have a long day tomorrow," furious Amuriat said.

Campaign Recap

On Thursday, Amuriat traversed Manafwa, Namisindwa and Bududa districts. He started his campaign with a mini-rally at Kiriki village in Lwanjusi.

While conversing for votes, Amuriat pledged to revive Bugisu Co-operative Union to reach the desired level so as to benefit the coffee farmers.

The campaign was also not void of scuffles between the Police and Amuriat's camp. The Police blocked Amuriat from going to Lwakhakha, on the Uganda-Kenya border. This prompted him to use short-cuts on a bodaboda until he reached the place. 

He accused the Government of using the Police against him since he started his campaigns.

COVID-19 SOPs 

Observations from the New Vision team covering Amuriat's campaign trail, the say Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) put in place by the Electoral Commission (EC) and the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of COVID-19 are being violated.

Voters who gather at the different rallies abuse the SOPs - no social distancing, a handful of people put on masks and there are no designated areas for people to wash hands.

COVID-19 is real, infections have soared and the number of those that have succumbed to it is at 220. 

As of Thursday, Uganda registered 671 cases for tests done on December 9. The cumulative confirmed cases now stand at 25,730. To date, 220 deaths have been registered and 9605 people have recovered from the virus.