Amuriat, Bobi react to EC ban of campaigns in 12 districts

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Patrick Amuriat Oboi has rubbished the decision by the electoral commission to ban campaign meetings in 12 districts over soaring Covid-19 infections, saying that as opposition, they will not heed to the directive, as it targets only areas where he and other opposition candidates are supposed to campaign next.

The districts where campaign meetings have been banned are Kampala, Wakiso, Mbarara, Kabarole, Luwero, Kasese, Masaka, Wakiso, Jinja, Kalungu, Kazo and Tororo.

While addressing journalists in Ssembabule town this afternoon, Mr Amuriat said the opposition will front a united position to confront what he said is a connivance between the electoral commission and Mr Museveni’s camp.

He said the commission has not yet written to the party officially and therefore can only treat it as rumours.

“But should this rumour turn out to be true, then the electoral commission has to explain to us to carry out campaigns in these major towns. As far as we are concerned tomorrow we are in jinja, we will go as normal. We are going to wait for the electoral commission to do what it wants to do and after that we will go to Tororo,” he said.

Amuriat accused Mr Museveni of using the commission to issue orders after realising that he has lost the support and trust of Ugandans and want to use that to bar opposition from reaching the masses

“I think with these kinds of orders we are preparing ourselves for a real fight with the electoral commission and Uganda police force and I think these are just signs of fear. Mr Museveni knows that he has become unpopular. We have got all the evidence that he no longer has the support of the Ugandans and therefore he is trying to hide behind the Covid-19 and also trying to deter us from going to areas where should have campaigns at our expense. So this is a matter we are going to take up and when the electoral commission finally writes to us, we are going to do what it takes as a combined opposition to resist this kind of thing,” he said.

“Whether Museveni likes it or not we are going to enter Kampala, whether he likes it or not, we shall be in Jinja and other major towns where he seeks to stop us from meeting the people,” he added.

He accused the commission of targeting areas where he is supposed to campaign next. He said Museveni has been campaigning for the last five years and the commission looked on and now wants to prevent others when the programme is very clear.

“Museveni has been campaigning all these years because immediately after the 2016 elections, he started campaigning for the election of 2021 and you know this is the height of unfairness. We have issued timetables and our programme indicate that we have got to be in these major cities. These monkey tricks will not auger well with the people of Uganda and if Museveni and his Byabakama want this election to be spoilt, then we can both spoil it so that the people of Uganda assert their authority and take over the reins of power in this country as stipulated under article three of the constitution.  These tricks we are not going to accept,” Amuriat said.

Bobi Wine reacts

Reacting to EC ban, National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi said Mr Msueveni is afraid of his popularity in the listed districts some of which he has allegedly tried to block him from accessing for the last three years.

“In real sense, Gen. Museveni has tried everything humanly possible to block us from holding meetings in Kampala, Masaka and Wakiso! This has been the pattern for the last 3 years. The other districts are added here to sanitise their cowardly actions! The dictatorship is in panic. They've been surprised by the massive enthusiasm and support we've been received with in all parts of the country. They just can't imagine what would happen if they allowed our people to meet in these areas. They are right to be very afaraid!” he said.

Amuriat pours cold water on UJCC proposals

Amuriat also said a proposal by the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) to postpone elections by three years is not tenable because it has to pass through a referendum, which in itself is an election ad wonders how elections can be postponed and a referendum is done

“My Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga much as he might have a point, there is a problem here because it is a matter of law that has to be sorted out. This kind of extension can only happen after a referendum. If a referendum can take place and this kind of extension must put in place a transition to transit from Museveni dictatorship to a new political order then we shall subscribe to it. But really for now it is not premised on any law and therefore it is not possible,” Amuriat said.

On Wednesday this week, UJCC led by Archbishop of Kampala, Dr Cyprian Kizito Lwanga asked government to postpone presidential elections for three years. UJCC also wanted the Constitution to be amended to allow President Museveni to continue ruling during the period of postponement.

However, the move has drawn condemnation from majority of Ugandans who accuse the religious leaders of dining with the president and turning blind eyes to the suffering of majority of Ugandans.