The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairman has invited two opposition presidential candidates to his office in relation to violation of campaign guidelines.
Justice Simon Byabakama has Friday written to Robert Kyagulanyi (NUP) and Patrick Amuriat (FDC) over the same.
The two candidates have been asked to appear at EC offices on Monday 14 at 10am and 11am respectively.
Below is Byabakama’s letter to Kyagulanyi
“The above refers; and the Commission makes further reference to its engagements with you and the National Unity Platform Officials on 5th, 16th of November, 2020, and 2nd December, 2020, in regard to your campaign activities.
As you may be aware, in response to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on management of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Health issued Regulations to manage the said Pandemic.
The Electoral Commission, while issuing the Election guidelines, and after consulting with the Ministry of Health, adopted the measures provided in the Regulations to control the spread of the disease which were issued to all stakeholders intending to participate in the General Election activities.
You may recall, in your meeting with the Commission on 2′ December, 2020, you were reminded to comply with the said guidelines in order to protect the Citizens of this Country from Covid-19 infection including yourself as a candidate.
Inspite 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 Operation Procedures (SOPs) by holding mass rallies and processions, contrary to established guidelines thereby risking the lives of the people.
In the process this has resulted into unwarranted occasional confrontations with security personnel, a case in point are mass rallies held at lganga 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.