KAMPALA — National Unity Platform Presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu will not make it to Electoral Commission today, party spokesperson Joel Ssenyonyi has said.
Ssenyonyi said Mr. Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine is in Karamoja and coming back to Kampala will eat a lot of time, “yet we have lost time”.
“We will represent him,” he said.
The Electoral Commission summoned Mr. Kyagulanyi and FDC’s Patrick Amuriat Oboi over repeated flouting of election guidelines.
The EC acting on the direction of the Ministry of Health banned mass gatherings that have more than 200 people as a means of slowing the spread of coronavirus.
In a letter written by the EC chairman Justice Simon Byabakama addressed to Mr. Kyagulanyi stated that the candidate had refused to adhere to the directives despite repeated reminders to do so.
“You may recall in our meeting with the commission on December 2, you were reminded to comply with the said guidelines to protect the citizens of this country from Covid-19 infections including yourself as a candidate,” Byabakama’s letter reads in part.
“Despite what the commission communicated in the above-stated meeting and the press communications on the matter, you have continued to ignore and neglected observing the standard operating procedures by holding mass rallies and processions contrary to established guidelines thereby risking the lives of the people. In the process, this has resulted in unwarranted occasional confrontations with security personnel.”
The letter instructed Mr. Kyagulanyi to appear in person at the commission headquarters in Kampala at Jinja road on Monday, December 14 at 10:00 am to respond to those issues and chat a way forward.
But the party leadership says coming to Kampala from Karamoja will eat their candidate’s time.
Ssenyonyi also decried what he called the selective application of the law.
“I don’t know why EC has not invited candidate Tibuhaburwa [Museveni]. All candidates have fallen short as far as COVID19 guidelines are concerned,” Ssenyonyi said.
He said the NRM candidate President Museveni had on several occasions been seen in person or through surrogates holding rallies of more than 200 people many of whom were without masks or practising social distancing.
Ugandans will go to the polls to elect new leaders on January 14, 2021, for presidential and parliamentary elections.
