Opposition group Go Forward under The Democratic Alliance (TDA) has said that presidential candidate Yoweri Kaguta Museveni is to blame for the violence during the election period.
“The main perpetrator of this violence is president Museveni; one time he actually said he is the master of violence,” Said Go Forward Deputy spokesperson Saddam Gayira.
Mr Gayira, who was addressing journalists at the Go Forward offices this morning, added that the president Museveni is quiet while his officials are sounding war drums.
“Threats towards Ugandans by the Inspector General of Police and Justine Lumumba (NRM Secretary General) are not a coincidence; this is a deliberate and systematic move to instigate violence by the state,” Mr Gayira said.
The Go Forward officials also expressed concern about the increasing disappearances of party aides in different parts of the country, something he said the victims’ relatives attribute to the police.
Since the campaigns began there have been isolated cases of violence, with supporters of the different parties engaging in bloody running battles.
Also, of recent some government and ruling party officials have come under intense criticism for allegedly uttering statements that border on incitement and threatening violence. However, they all denied the accusations.
In a related development, Ms Solome Nakaweesi Kimbugwe, the Chief of Staff at the Go Forward Secretariat said that they have records of 13 missing people which include one mobiliser in Nateete, and a Bishop in Rukungiri among others.
“We have reported all these cases to the police but as we all know, the Uganda Police are highly partisan, nothing has been done about it,” Ms Kimbugwe said.
She also accused the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of ignoring all complaints filed by Go Forward, adding that the electoral body neither acts nor sends a reply.
Contacted on phone, IEC Spokesperson Jotham Taremwa and Police Spokesperson Fred Enanga said they were busy, with Mr Enanga referring The EagleOnline to his deputy Ms Polly Namaye. However, by press time efforts to contact her were futile.
Meanwhile, at today’s conference, women leaders under their umbrella organization, the Uganda Women Network (UWONET), have asked the Go Forward to participate in observing peace before, during and after elections.
“We, the women of Uganda, would like to express our deepest concern at the increasing level of political violence and intolerance which is countering citizens aspirations for peace, inclusion and genuine democracy, “ said Ms Ritah Aciro, the Executive Director UWONET.
She added: “We strongly condemn and will not tolerate any form of violence during this period.”
