The police have recorded 450 cases of election violence during this year’s 2006 election period as reveled by the police boss Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura.He however, hastened to add that the general security situation during the time was “quite good as acknowledged by all the commentators” in the country apart from a few isolated cases of voter intimidation and bribery (27-FEB-06)
This article first appeared in the newspaper ´the Monitor´ of February 27 as reported by Mercy Nalugo and Richard Mutumba and has been republished here by HRH´s Interim Coordinator.
How has the police reacted
“We got isolated cases some of which were hoax. Others included intimidation and bribing of the voters on polling day,” Kayihura said over the weekend at Kibuli Police Headquarters.He said the only serious incident was the case of the Presidential Legal Assistant, Mr Fox Odoi, who allegedly drew a gun on and terrorised voters in Tororo district.“We are through with the investigations and I have instructed that his case comes to the Criminal Investigations Department here in Kampala because of its gravity. They (CID) have referred the matter to the Principal State Attorney in Tororo to authorise prosecution,” Kayihura said. “ He would probably be prosecuted on Monday (today)” he added.Kayihura said if it is proved that Odoi was guilty of possessing an illegal device, he would be charged with terrorism, adding that his was a case of indiscipline.
What next step will be taken?
He also pointed out another case where the Forum for Democratic Change’s MP, Mr Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri East) was allegedly involved in violence.“Nandala was trying to disrupt the polling centre in Sironko and police moved in to arrest him briefly. He is also going to court,” he said.
The campaigns, which were peaceful at the beginning, turned violent towards election time. The climax of violence was when three people were killed and several others injured on February 15 when a soldier opened fire at a crowd waiting for the Forum for Democratic Change leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, at Bulange Mengo.As Besigye was leaving Bulange after talks with the Buganda officials, Lt Ramathan Magara, the commanding officer of the Reserve Force in Mengo attached to the office of the Deputy RDC of Lubaga Division shot and killed the three people. The incident happened three days after Clara Vuni, a candidate for the Adjumani Woman MP seat was killed in a car crash. Vuni’s supporters claimed that the incumbent MP who was also a candidate, Jesca Eriyo’s car had hit that of their candidate.
