Kampala- Former Prime Minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi faces summons if police establish that he is behind a load of electoral campaign materials found with two men who were arrested this morning.
“We are going to charge them under the urban authority rule after finishing with our investigations,” Mr. Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson said adding: “We shall have to establish where they got this material from and if we discover that Mr Mbabazi has a connection to this, we shall call him in for a statement.”
The arrest of the two men, who were found driving a car with several banners, flyers and posters of Mr Mbabazi, follows another arrest earlier this morning of Robert Kabagambe, a resident of Kabale Municipality who was arrested for ‘illegally’ putting up posters of Mr.Mbabazi along the streets of Kabale town.
The campaign material was confiscated and the two men whose names were not readily established are being held at the Special Investigations Division headquarters in Kireka.
These arrests come in the wake of police warnings against ‘the planned demonstration of Mbabazi’s supporters in Kampala’, which was contained in a police statement issued yesterday.
Police said the demonstrations were illegal because they (police) were not informed as it is supposed to be, in line with the Public Order Management Act.
After a year and four months of public speculation, Mr.Mbabazi finally came out this morning to clear the air and announced his desire to stand for presidency in a YouTube video.
A long time ally of President Yoweri Museveni, Mr Mbabazi has served in high-profile government positions since 1986.
He, however, reportedly fell out with his boss at a retreat in Kyankwanzi after he belatedly signed a petition by Northern Youth MP Evelyn Anite, urging for the sole candidature of Mr Museveni as the NRM flag bearer in the 2016 elections.
And now the declaration of Mr Mbabazi’s presidential bid has caused excitement, sending the political tempo in the country to a new high.
Earlier in the week he had also caused anxiety when he delegated his vociferous sister-in-law Hope Mwesigye Ruhindi, to represent him at the formation of an opposition coalition, the Democratic Alliance, a loose coalition that is currently engaged in plans of finding a suitable joint candidate, to take on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party flag bearer.
Police warns
Meanwhile, police has warned all political aspirants to desist from all forms of early campaigns before the Electoral Commission pronounces itself on the matter.
“The Electoral Commission came up with a clear roadmap and we want all candidates to follow the programme,” Mr.Enanga said adding: “We are asking candidates to get proper campaign plans and managers because we shall go after them when they get out of the line.”
