Religious leaders condemn counter-campaign rallies

Church of Uganda Archbishop Stanley Ntagali addresses journalists at the Provincial offices in Namirembe, Kampala . PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA 

In Summary

Violence. Church of Uganda archbishop says lack of respect for electoral laws will not deliver a free and fair election.

Kampala. Religious leaders have condemned the violent acts that happened between supporters of two presidential candidates Yoweri Museveni and Amama Mbabazi in Ntungamo on Sunday.
Speaking on behalf of Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), Church of Uganda Archbishop Stanley Ntagali called on candidates to refrain their supporters from organising counter-rallies intended to disrupt rival candidates processions.

Following a clash between people dressed in NRM T-shirts and independent candidate Mbabazi’s security, the clergy yesterday said the counter-rallies have resulted in tension and scenes of violence that the campaign period had not witnessed since they kicked off last month.
They warned that lack of respect for electoral laws and principles of democracy will not deliver a free and fair election slated for next year.
“We call upon all candidates and their supporters to desist from interfering with the campaign rallies of their opponents,” Archbishop Ntagali, who is also the UJCC chairperson, said in a Christmas message to Ugandans.

“We would like to emphasise that election-related acts of intimidation or violence constitute an affront to the people of Uganda who aspire to live in a free, just and democratic society,” the Church of Uganda Archbishop told journalists at the Provincial offices in Namirembe, Kampala.
On Sunday, violence ensued in Ntungamo after a group of supporters of the ruling NRM party, dressed in President Museven’s t-shirts lined the road, provoking the Mbabazi-led procession.

But the clergy said that despite the national motto and the anthem which remind people that Uganda was founded on God’s love, many behave in a way which does not reflect enough. “We often come across ugly incidents of theft, violence, killings, accidents on our roads and domestic violence. These are signs that many of our people do not respect each other and by so doing, they fail in obedience to the will of God,” Archbishop Ntagali said.
He said: “We call upon fellow citizens to allow the Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ, to be born in your hearts. We all need to know that there is only one thing the Lord requires of us; to act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God.”

Other incidents of counter rallies

This was not the first time NRM supporters came face-to-face with those of the Go Forward-sponsored independent candidate, Mr Amama Mbabazi.
Fort Portal. Last month, NRM supporters led by Lt Gen (rtd). Henry Tumukunde landed in a chopper at Mr Mbabazi’s campaign venue in Fort Portal, Kabarole District, and organised a counter-event said to demobilise his supporters.

However, NRM Secretary General Justine Lumumba apologised to Mr Mbabazi for disrupting his campaign rally, saying the NRM was not aware that Mr Mbabazi had been scheduled to campaign in the area, having changed his programme without notifying the NRM as per Electoral Commission regulations.

Mukono. In Mukono District, people donned in NRM colours carrying posters of the party presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni took to the streets with praise songs.
Arua. In Arua, two cars with sealed registration number plates drove around the town with the occupants telling street people to deface Mr Mbabazi’s posters while in Iganga, a group of NRM supporters dispersed Mr Mbabazi’s supporters.

ekasozi@ug.nationmedia.com