The President of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, has called on Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi to resign, citing police brutality against party members during the campaign period.
On several occasions, police have fired tear gas at Kyagulanyi’s supporters, claiming they were dispersing unlawful processions barred by the Electoral Commission.
According to Bobi Wine, the escalating police brutality has become a major concern. He said that on Monday, police fired tear gas canisters into their peaceful rallies without any legal justification, describing the authorities’ double standards as “evidently disgusting.”
He added that while police claim to be stopping opposition processions, similar actions are not taken against candidates from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).
Bobi Wine called on the Electoral Commission chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, to take action if he is truly in charge of the electoral process.
“Byabakama has been conspicuously silent on all the prevailing illegalities and rights violations in the electoral process. The speedy response he showed while criticizing our protest vote should apply equally when commenting on these issues,” Bobi Wine said.
He further expressed shock that Byabakama, a legal expert, has discouraged citizens from protecting their votes without citing any legal provision to support such a declaration.
“As NUP, we are calling for Active Citizens’ Participation (ACP) in this election because citizens have every right to be engaged as voters,” he said.
Under Section 31, Clause 4 of the Presidential Elections Act, citizens have the right to observe the election from within 30 meters of the tally table.
“This is what we have been encouraging. If Mr. Byabakama is not ready to conduct a transparent, free, and fair election, then we ask him to peacefully resign from his position as chairperson of the Electoral Commission,” Bobi Wine stated.
