As the elections season heats up ,the Electoral Commission Boss , Justice Simon Byabakama has summoned a Minister and two Presidential Candidates, for violating the set elections guidelines and SOPs to stem the spread of the deadly, novel -global covid-19 pandemic that has left 220 Ugandans dead and 25,730 suffering from the virus.
Minister Haruna Kasolo Kyeyune, Presidential candidates ,Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and Patrick Amuriat Oboi aka POA have been told to appear before the commission on Monday for “persistent breach” of election guidelines/ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19.
In a letter dated December 10, 2020, and signed by EC Chairman, Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama and addressed to Kyagulanyi the Commission referred to previous meetings it has held with the NUP presidential candidate to remind him about the need to follow the guidelines not to hold mass rallies and processions in order to prevent the spread and increase the COVID-19 infections.
The EC letter states, “In spite of what the Commission communicated in the above stated meeting, and the press communications on the matter, you have continued to ignore and/or neglected observing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by holding mass rallies and processions contrary to established guidelines, thereby risking the lives of the people.”
It adds: “In the process, this has resulted into unwarranted occasional confrontations with security personnel, a case in point are mass rallies held at Iganga on 17th November, 2020 and Koboko on 8th December, 2020, among others, and processions en route to your campaign venues.
In light of the foregoing, you are invited in person, to meet the Commission on Monday 14th December 2020 at 10:00am to respond to the above issues and chat a way forward.”
Minister Kasolo is similarly accused of holding a mammoth rally in his constituency Kyotera , allegedly to “prove” that the NRM candidates can beat Bobi wine on his own game of holding mass rallies . Amuriat is summoned for encouraging processions while in Mbarara district .
