Muzanira petitions EC over civil servants, army officers’ involvement in partisan campaigns

What you need to know:

  • Rukungiri RDC Martin Mugabe (not among the accused) said; “This is part of the campaign. There are a lot of allegations that come out of these campaigns, most of the allegations are false. They are also trying to intimidate officers that they do not come even to vote. As the head of security, I must be involved in this election, where it may go wrong is where I may take sides, but we have been here trying all ways to make sure this election is free and fair.”

RUKUNGIRI. The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate in the Rukungiri District woman MP by-election, Ms Betty Muzanira, has petitioned Electoral Commission (EC) Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama over involvement of Commissioner General of Prisons Johnson Byabasheija, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and army officers in the campaigns.

The accused RDCs are; Mr James Mwesigye (formerly Kasese, apparently un-deployed), Mr Dan Kaguta (formerly Wakiso, now attached to External Security Organisation), Mr Emmy Katera Ngabirano (Buhweju), Mr Denis Nzeirwe (Deputy RDC Kabale) and Ms Justine Muhindo (Deputy RDC Rukungiri).

The accused army officers are; Brig David Kasula, Col Amos Rutaremwa and Col John Bashaija.

Lawyers of Ms Muzanira from Rwakafuzi and Company Advocates on May 17 wrote that; “It has come to our client’s notice that the Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons Service, Mr Johnson Byabashaija, who is by law a public servant thus forbidden from engaging in partisan politics, is currently in Rukungiri, campaigning for Ms Winfred Masiko Komuhangi, a candidate in the said by-election.”

Ms Masiko is the NRM candidate. Mr Byabasheija was reportedly campaigning in Nyakishenyi Sub County. The petition says his actions contravene laws which forbid public officers from canvassing support for candidates.

“Additionally, this amounts to outright abuse of office by the said individual which should interest inspectorate of government. This is therefore to request for your immediate intervention and prevail over these officers to stop their actions,” reads the petition copied to the Inspector General of Government.

The petition against RDCs says Mr Mwesigye campaigned in Buyanja Sub County on May 12, and on May 14 Mr Kaguta campaigned in Nyakishenyi Sub County and Mr Kateera campaigned in Bwambara Sub County, Ms Muhindo campaigned in Nyarushanje Sub County while Mr Denis Nzeirwe campaigned in Bugangari Sub County.

“This is therefore to request for your immediate intervention and prevail over these officers to stop their actions forth with,” the petition reads.

The petitioner asks EC to prevail over Brig Kasula, Col Rutaremwa and Col Bashaija to “stop their actions forth with.”

The petition however does not indicate where and when the army officers were campaigning for Ms Masiko. The petition against the army officers is copied to Commander of Defense Forces.

Justice Byabakama has asked the Commander of the Defense Forces to investigate and take action.

“The purpose of this letter is to request you to ascertain from your end, if these allegations are true and if so take appropriate action,” the letter dated May 22 reads in part.

He has also written to the Returning Officer Rukugiri District to investigate allegations against Mr Byabasheija, the RDCs and army officers.

“The purpose of this letter therefore, is to direct you to investigate and ascertain these allegations and report to the Commission immediately,” the letter Daily Monitor has seen reads.

The EC spokesperson Mr Jotham Taremwa on Saturday evening confirmed that the Returning Officer has been tasked to investigate and “treat the matter with utmost urgency.”

James Mwesigye, one of the accused responded that; “I am not an RDC, I am retired RDC, I don’t hold any government office and I am free to campaign for anyone of my choice.

“There is no law that stops me from campaigning. There are so many outsiders campaigning for FDC what about me. Let them accept that we are in a free election and we all have to campaign, whoever wins takes it,” He added.

Mr Johnson Byabasheija responded that; “On May 12, I was chairing a meeting for Nyakishenyi High School where I am a chairperson board of governors; we did not talk politics at all. I have not been back home since. I have seen the allegations that I am hosting meetings in my house; that I have a store for sticks and I am training people to beat up voters. There is nothing like that, I cannot do such a thing, people who know me would testify. I am not involved in this election in any way. I think there are other issues not related to this election that these allegations are following, which we may discuss later after the elections.”

Ms Betty Muzanira, the petitioner said; “We want civil servants out of this election; people are using state resources to intimidate our voters and this is not acceptable. We have petitioned various offices and we need them out. Let them not use their offices or government resources to campaign, threaten people or give them money.”

Rukungiri RDC Martin Mugabe (not among the accused) said; “This is part of the campaign. There are a lot of allegations that come out of these campaigns, most of the allegations are false. They are also trying to intimidate officers that they do not come even to vote. As the head of security, I must be involved in this election, where it may go wrong is where I may take sides, but we have been here trying all ways to make sure this election is free and fair.”

Reported by Perez Rumanzi, Robert Muhereza & Alfred Tumushabe