{UAH} Gen Kayihura Threatens to Arrest Mbabazi

Gen Kayihura Threatens to Arrest Mbabazi

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Freddie Ruhindi, Badru Kiggundu and Gen Kayihura attending the press conference at Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala on Saturday evening

By: Kim Aine

Police boss Gen Kale Kayihura has vowed to arrest presidential hopeful Amama Mbabazi if he "continues violating the laws on holding public assemblies," Chimp Corps report.

Kayihura said Mbabazi "has been committing offences but we have been lenient with him. This time we are going to act."

The IGP was referring to Mbabazi's decision to continue holding open public rallies instead of consultative meetings with his supporters across the country.

"Amama Mbabazi must hold consultative meetings in a confined place so that they don't degenerate into prohibited rallies and campaigns," explained Gen Kayihura.

The police chief made the remarks during a joint press briefing with the Attorney General Freddie Ruhindi and Electoral Commission (EC) chairman Eng Badru Kiggundu in Kampala on Saturday.

Earlier, Kiggundu expressed concern that "some aspirants have not adhered to the guidelines and the law," adding, "they are turning consultative meetings into open campaigns contrary to the law, the election roadmap as well as guidelines issued to the aspirants by the Electoral Commission."

He warned: "Some aspirants are not respecting the law, guidelines of the EC issued to them and are conducting campaigns, rallies, distributing campaign materials, holding mass meetings and canvassing/soliciting for votes instead of restricting themselves to consultative meetings which are allowed under the law."

He cautioned "those aspirants to respect the law and abide by guidelines of the Electoral Commission."

Mbabazi this week held rallies in Kapchorwa, Mbale and Soroti where he urged gatherings to support his presidential bid so as to improve the quality of Uganda's healthcare and education systems.

Mbabazi's lawyers said there was no law that bars him from holding rallies during his consultation meetings.

Preparatory

On his part, Kiggundu explained that consultations, according to Section 3 of Presidential Elections Act, 2005, are "preparatory in nature and in anticipation of one's nomination as a candidate."

The EC boss said, "At this phase of the electoral period, there are no presidential candidates and therefore campaigns are not allowed. There are only presidential aspirants who are allowed to carry out consultative meetings."

Asked why EC allowed FDC flag-bearer contestants to campaign across the country, Kiggundu described the exercise as an "internal process provided for by the party Constitution."

He, however, warned that, "just like any other presidential aspirant, at this stage Dr Besigye cannot campaign until he is duly nominated by the EC as a presidential candidate and present his campaign programme to EC."

Pressed to shed more light on what EC considers as a consultation, Kiggundu said the expression implies that "the venue, mode and manner of the consultative meeting must facilitate the exchange of views between the aspirant and those being consulted."

He added: "One wonders how processions and rallies can be conducive for a consultative process. In fact rallies and processions are characteristic of campaigns but not consultative meetings."

Ruhindi came in to explain the difference between consultations and campaigns after Mbabazi's lawyers said rallies for presidential aspirants are not disallowed by law.

He said "consultations are preparatory stages before you are nominated as presidential candidate," adding, "Standing with a microphone speaking to a crowd to support your cause and vote for you is not a consultation."

The Attorney General further pointed out that "Consultations mean exchange of views to reach a decision. You can't define everything in legislation."

He urged aspirants to respect the Public Order Management Act which provides police powers to regulate public conduct.

"If police say 'you cannot hold a rally here, appeal to the magistrate.' The public law is good for regulation of public order," he advised.

Stability

Ruhindi said most civil liberties as enshrined in the Constitution are not absolute.

"You can't want freedom at the expense of stability. Freedom to associate has limitations because we need stability in our society," he added.

In his conclusive remarks, Kayihura said "An aspiring leader must be responsible" and that Police comes in when "rights and freedoms of a society are violated."

He also revealed that Mbabazi's planned rallies in Northern Uganda will not be tolerated.

"Why the hurry for campaigns when we are just a few weeks away to the campaign exercise? Why the rush?" wondered Kayihura.

"They must stop creating unnecessary tension. Time will come for campaigns."

On stopping Mbabazi's rallies in Jinja, Kayihura said the former premier's camp "wanted to have two rallies including one in a market in Jinja. He wanted to build up a mass of supporters from Iganga Town to Jinja which would disrupt traffic on the main highway."

"Even traders in Jinja wrote to us that they did not want Mbabazi's rallies because they suffered under walk-to-work. Mbabazi should not defy police's lawful orders."

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H.OGWAPITI
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"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that  we are to stand by the president right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic  and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."
---Theodore Roosevelt

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