Following the recent NRM primaries that were openly characterized by a lot of electoral violence, ridging, assault, and generally destabilizing the environment in almost all districts where they took place, President Museveni has vowed that the ruling party will end all sort of malpractice with the digitalized biometric voter registration.
During his address at the party headquarters in Kyadondo, Kampala on Monday, the president emphasized that whereas the process of lining up behind candidates was a preferred method upon coming into power because it was very transparent, some hooligans took advantage of it to destabilize the NRM primaries.
“There was violence in a constituency called Bukono where 12 people were beaten and cut with pangas. I got information that the police had not done much work. I told IGP that if the police didn’t do the work, I will do it for them by arresting them first and then bring the rest myself. I have the capacity to do it,” Museveni said.
He wondered how some of the suspects in the matter had been arrested and released on police bond, noting that it is appalling.
“There will be no police bond for anybody who has attacked Ugandans. You alter results we arrest you in forgery. The stupid policeman who doesn’t know how to use a gun will go to jail for manslaughter. The ones threatening people will also go to jail. The one who beat people will also go to jail,” Museveni continued.
All those who have made a fool of themselves will go to jail. If we find that you changed results, you will be charged with forgery. This game is finished. If you try to change declaration forms, the villages are available. Once there is any suspicion, we shall go to the village, check and go for you Instead of going to parliament you will go to jail for committing forgery.
He urged all party members who are aggrieved to calm down and wait for the panels of elders in every region to be unveiled and here they will lodge complaints about the concluded party primaries.
During the Chobe CEC Conference, it was decided by the ruling NRM party to go for lining in the spirit of ‘transparency’ as it open for everybody to see during daylight.
