“You Risk Arrest and Disqualification” – Police Warn on Intimidation in LC Elections

Ahead of the long awaited Local Council (LC) elections scheduled to take place tomorrow across the country, Police has warned candidates intending to intimidate voters that they will be arrested or disqualified.

The warning was made on Moday by the Police spokesperson, SSP Emilian Kayima whole addressing the press at Central Police Station in Kampala.

Ugandans will Tuesday take to the polls to elect their LC 1 Chairpersons at village level in 60,800 villages all over Uganda, an exercise that hasn’t been done in the last 15 years. Voters will line up behind their candidate of choice.

But Kayima said that Police has received reports that in some areas such as Kampala, candidates intend to use heavy weighted men to intimidate voters against voting for their political opponents.

“We have reports that in Kisenyi and other parts of Kampala, some candidates have employed ‘kanyamas’ [heavy muscled men] to intimidate voters not to line up behind other candidates,” Kayima told reporters on Monday.

“We will deploy at all polling centres. Those whose intention is to intimidate, that’s not acceptable. Our officers will get you out. We shall neither be soft nor hobnob with you,” he added.

He said that whoever engages in such acts or any other acts that destabilize the electoral process risks getting arrested or disqualified from the exercise.

Kayima urged Ugandans to take these elections seriously as they determine profoundly the security of their respective areas.

“This is a fundamental vote. Villages with good leadership are secure. If you elect land grabbers, be prepared to suffer all through,” he said.

He also advised the candidates participating I the elections not to take the exercise personally, especially in circumstances where their relatives or friends do not vote for them.