German envoy warns on elections
The German ambassador to Uganda, Dr Peter Blomeyer (R), welcomes former Democratic Party president Paul Ssemwogere to his residence in Kololo, Kampala, on Thursday. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE
What you need to know:
Priority. German ambassador urges the security apparatus to put citizens first by ensuring they live in a peaceful environment
Kampala.
The Germany ambassador to Uganda, Dr Peter Blomeyer, has warned security forces against intimidating voters and candidates because they are mandated to facilitate peaceful elections.
Speaking at the 25th celebrations of the fall of the Berlin Wall at his residence in Kampala on Thursday, Mr Blomeyer said the reunification of Germany 25 years ago is a demonstration that security apparatus are not as important as citizens of a country.
He said although East Germany had a very sophisticated security apparatus, it crumbled on its knees, warning that any country thinking of using the same system today is following a dangerous path.
“I have been asked by Ugandans about a lesson to be drawn from the experience Germany went through and I would like to put to you that it is important for a country to put the people first before the policies,” Dr Blomeyer said.
“Europeans should remember the immigrant crisis 25 years ago. Much as Uganda has good refugee policies, people who are fleeing their countries are not doing it for pleasure and no one who is politically persecuted and fearing for life should be turned away,” he added.
The ambassador also said for the one year he and his wife have stayed in Uganda, they have noted that God endowed the country with good natural resources but people needed to turn them into valuable items.
“Everything is nothing unless someone makes use of them. Fertile soil is nothing unless someone grows something on it, precious metals are nothing until someone makes a precious gem out of it and a green environment is nothing maybe for a passing tourist,” he said.
Ambassador’s take on voting
Mr Blomeyer also urged Ugandans to vote in the forth coming elections to determine the future of their country.
“People are also at the centre of the most important upcoming political event in this country, elections. In elections, people need a choice between different options and they need to understand these options.
For this, every candidate needs the freedom to present his position in rallies and in media. The solemn task of the Electoral Commission and of the police is to guarantee this freedom. Harassment of candidates by whomsoever, or even violence is sabotage of democracy. Candidates themselves need to show restraint, concentrate on their arguments, refrain from personal verbal attacks and even more from attempts to bribe the electorate.”
