Amuriat campaigns in Nakapiripirit, Amudat

PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS

The Forum for Democratic Change presidential candidate, Patrick Oboi Amuriat has shifted his focus to the Karamoja sub-region after conversing for votes in Bugisu sub-region on Thursday and Friday.

Amuriat is campaigning in Nakapiripirit, Amudat and Nabilatuk districts. He started his campaign trail in Nakapiripiti district addressing a rally at Namalu trading centre, Namalu sub-county. 

While addressing his supporters, Police commanded by the Regional Police Commander, Francis Chemusto, fired teargas to disperse the supporters of FDC Presidential candidate-Patrick Oboi Amuriat.

In the process, the Police also arrested Amuriat's driver one Fabian, he was accused of blocking the Police from confiscating the speaker which Amuriat was using to address his supporters. 

This instead worsened the situation, people started pelting stones towards the heavily deployed police and army demanding for the unconditional release of Amuriat's driver.

As a result, police and army opened live bullets in the air before they accepted to release the driver. This was after Amuriat pleaded with RPC Chemusto. 

Amuriat was allowed to hold his first rally successfully mat Kapeduli in Morita sub-county, Nakapiripirit. While addressing his supporters, he pledged to build a cement factory and also to improve the security in the region.

He said Pokoti people who have been raiding Karamoja region for cattle will soon become history when he becomes president. The presidential hopeful also pledged to improve health services in the region.

In Nabilatuk, the Police under the command of the District Police Commander (DPC) Adam Kakaire blocked him from addressing a rally. He instead turned to the men in uniform and addressed them as they listened on attentively.

Amuriat addressed his biggest rally in Pokot town, in Amudat district.

Campaign recap

On Friday Amuriat wrapped up his campaign in Bugisu sub-region in the districts of Sironko, Bulambuli and Mbale city.

Amuriat emphasised on embracing coffee growing and food for cash and consumption. He promised to increase the budget for agriculture.

The FDC candidate also received the news of being summoned by the Electoral Commission while on the campaign trail. Amuriat was summoned along with the National Unity Platform's (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi were summoned over breach of election guidelines and the Standard Operating Procedures aimed at controlling the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 SOPs 

From observation supporters who turn up for Amuriat's campaigns don't observe the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) put in place by the EC and the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of COVID-19 are being violated.

Most of the supporters don't put on masks, social distancing is never observed and also the number of supporters allowed to attend a rally exceed 200 agreed upon. At the campaigning venues, there are never washing points.

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

As of Friday, Uganda registered 702 cases for tests done on December 11. The cumulative confirmed cases now stand at 27,071. To date, 220 deaths have been registered and 9744 people have recovered from the virus.