President Robert Mugabe is not guilty of allowing the continued bloodshed in the Burundi conflict during his term as Africa Union chair, his spokesman says while passing the buck to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

Mr George Charamba says Mugabe did not neglect Burundi; he defended his boss saying contrary to the said ‘misconception’ that Mugabe did very little to solve the conflict, he actually did all he could within his means but was limited by jurisdiction.

Charamba said “the procedure of the AU is not to run everything from the centre, but rather it is to build from the blocs.”

“The instrument of first intervention is always the regional entity; it is the organ of first instance in conflict resolution. In the case of Burundi, that organ would be the East African Community (EAC) through President (Yoweri) Museveni, which explains why the President of Uganda is the point man for Africa on Burundi,” said Charamba.

Charamba’s remarks come in the wake of concerns at how the Burundi crisis is being addressed by the EAC, with the US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield saying that the regional body and Mr Museveni, the EAC appointed mediator, could be blamed if war engulfs Burundi.

“We’re hopeful the AU will become more actively engaged in the process and take this burden away from President Museveni,” Ms Greenfield, who said Mr Museveni was busy with his re-election campaigns, was quoted as telling a Senate panel.

By press time today, efforts to contact President Museveni’s spokesperson Linda Nabusayi were futile.

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The Uganda Police Force has ordered for a heavy duty helicopter for the operations of the Inspector General of Police.

According to credible sources within security that preferred anonymity, the chopper, to help ease the movement and operations of the IGP General Kale Kayihura, is to be in the country before February 12.

At Naguru police headquarters, construction works are ongoing at the Helipad, just a few metres from the new building.

But when contacted for comment, Police publicist Fred Enanga said police hasn’t bought any helicopter specifically for the IGP.

“There has been no purchase of a chopper for the IGP; the ones available are police choppers,” Enanga said in a phone interview earlier.

Asked why the force was constructing a helipad at its Naguru-based headquarters Enanga said: “The place was soft and could easily sink in and that is why you are seeing that digging, we are constructing a helipad.”

Police last year procured two helicopters from Italy.

Since 2010, the Force has had no functioning helicopter after one transporting former Prime Minister Apollo Nsibambi, crashed in Bugiri.

The National Insurance Corporation (NIC) compensated the police to the tune of Shs8 billion and that was part of the money used to purchase the two choppers.

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The police has warned presidential candidates who intend to organise parallel tally stations to desist from the move.

“All those planning to set up parallel tally centres should note that the official centre is the Electoral Commission,” Police Spokesperson Mr Fred Enanga said today at the press briefing.

Without elaborating the punitive action to be taken against those who will indulge in the exercise, Mr Enanga, said the duty of tallying results was the prerogative of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Meanwhile, the police have warned Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate, Dr Kizza Besigye for campaigning beyond the stipulated time, in contravention of the electoral guidelines.

This follows two separate incidents last week on Friday 29^th, when police in Kiruhura and Ibanda fired tear gas to disperse Besigye’s supporters in Higorora Sub County in Ibanda district at 8.25pm, contrary to the 6pm hour mark set by the Electoral Commission as the peak for holding rallies in a day.

Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Asan Kasingye, the interagency communications task team chairperson at police headquarters, told the media today that Dr Besigye was advised by the area police not to address the crowd waiting for him at that time, but he declined, forcing the area Deputy Regional Police Commander (RPC) to switch off the public address system.

“We strongly condemn such acts of defiance that prompted the police to disperse the crowd that had blocked traffic at the key junction, using its dispersal powers,” Mr Kasingye told journalists during a weekly press conference at the police headquarters in Naguru.

According to Kasingye, the police respect the democratic rights of all candidates and supporters in expressing their civil rights and responsibilities but urged the public to shun acts intended to disrupt public peace.

Kasingye said that legal action shall be taken against those who don’t adhere with the EC guidelines.

‘’We can take them to court for violating the electoral guidelines; we have informed our officers to start taking video evidence using their phones, once you break the law, you are supposed to be charged,” Kasingye said.

However FDC spokesperson said that with such remarks, police is confirming ‘what the public knows that it is partisan.’

“If the electoral law is breached, it is not the police to call for action; it is the Electoral Commission. For police to get involved in politics shows that they are an arm of the NRM,” Mr Semujju said, adding: “In any case, police is never a complainant especially in matters of elections.”

According to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) guidelines, a presidential candidate is not supposed to campaign beyond 6pm in any area.

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Several traffic police officers have faced the wrath of the law, in regard to corruption-related allegations.

According to a source speaking on condition of anonymity, the police officers are these days subjected to impromptu checks by plain clothed officers riding on ordinary-plated motorcycles.

“Recently, an officer attached to Kitintale Police Post was arrested for corruption and has since been ordered to return to routine police work and leave the road,” the source, who named the culprit only as Isaac said, adding that the officer was found with Shs20,000 he could not account for.

According to the source, the traffic officers are also ‘not sleeping on the job’, and have devised ways of concealing their booty.

“Nowadays they employ boda boda cyclists; these position themselves near where the officers operate from and are the ones who keep the money the police traffic officers have solicited as bribes,” the source said.

By press time efforts to contact police spokesperson Fred Enanga were futile as his known number was busy.

But several Ugandans including President Yoweri Museveni have at different times expressed reservations about corruption amongst officers of the traffic police, with the President at one time ordering them off the highways.

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