KOBOKO – Investment minister Evelyn Anite has denied holding or organising a procession after a video from his home area in Koboko Municipality showed her supporters marching and chanting her name.
Opposition leaders, including Bobi Wine and Dr Kizza Besigye at the weekend slammed government for double standards in implementation of guidelines to contain the spread of COVID-19 after the video showed supporters of Ms Anite, who is the area MP, in a procession chanting her name. The Electoral Commission has also banned mass rallies ahead of elections.
But the minister on Sunday said that this was not a campaign rally. She instead said the residents were marching to welcome the new ambulances she donated to them.
“The procession that has been widely viewed on social media was not a campaign rally. I did not organize it and neither did my Team. I was not even there! The spontaneous procession formed on the occasion of the delivery of the Ambulances for Koboko Municipality,” Ms Anite said.
“The community is in great need of these ambulances as the nearest referral hospital is in Arua. We promised to deliver the ambulances before COVID19, but the pandemic has made them even more urgent to respond to emergencies during this period. As leaders in Koboko, we continue to raise awareness for our people to social distance, wear masks, wash hands and follow other guidelines provided by Ministry of Health. Health of our people is number one priority for me. I will do more to sensitize the people about this and warn them against such dangerous practices,” she added.
Several government ministers and NRM leaning politicians have come under the spotlight for breaking the government guidelines on social distancing. Several of them, including Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, have been seen in such processions. However, the police have always moved fast to disperse similar gatherings organised by the opposition.
