By Mulengera Reporters
The EC Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama has told the people of Sheema North, who will be electing their new MP on 8th October, that elections aren’t the most important thing for them to keep thinking about. “Life is not only about elections. There are many other more important things that should occupy your thinking,” Byabakama told an audience that comprised of newly elected LC1 chairpersons whom he rallied to promote peace during the campaign period. Byabakama, whose team the President recently threatened to expel for their less than satisfactory performance in Arua, says its wrong for Ugandans to keep thinking about politics and elections as if its the only thing their entire life depends on. He said this in a bid to justify the new restrictions his commission has come up with in order to restrict enjoyment of political rights during election time. The new restrictions are seemingly aimed at appeasing the President who recently bitterly complained about the EC conduct following the defeat of his Arua candidate Nusura Tiperu.
Byabakama has since banned processions during campaign period and says supporters must individually walk back home in silence after attending their candidate’s rally. He says the EC has already briefed police not to allow any processions, people moving in groups to and from the rally venue during the campaign period. He says these new restrictions are reflective of some of the bitter lessons the EC has learnt from the Arua experience. Byabakama says police has been mandated by EC to do all it can to foil post-rally processions including subjecting popular candidates to preventive arrests if that is what must be done to ensure peace and to avoid Arua-like skirmishes in subsequent campaigns.
