EC’s Justice Byabakama asks Police, DPP to go for politicians who sponsor election violence

The chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama has asked the office of the DPP and Police to get tough on politicians who sponsor election violence.

“Violence has become a terrible cancer during our elections. People are threatened, property destroyed and others looted during elections. We can’t allow such kind of a thing. The issue of violence is an offence under the law and we want investigators and prosecutors to deal with people who commit such offences so that we cleanse our politics,” Byabakama said.

He was on Thursday speaking during the ongoing annual coordination meeting between the Office of the DPP and Criminal Investigations Directorate at Kibuli under the theme, “The contribution of ODPP/CID in the socio-economic transformation of Uganda.”

President Museveni is expected to be the chief guest.

According to the EC chairperson, it is high time government dealt with election violence decisively.

“We need to maintain peace and stability in our country but this cant happen with election violence in place. We should not allow elections disrupt the people that allow Ugandans enjoy their peace and do business. More than 90% of Ugandans don’t survive on politicking or electioneering. They survive on things they do in markets, shops, gardens, bus parks and many others. Why should we destabilise the environment in which these people thrive?”

“The police and office of the DPP should this time get tough and deal with election violence firmly and decisively.”

Politicians, especially from the opposition have in the past accused security forces including both the police and the army of orchestrating violence against them and their supporters in form of violent arrests, beating and sometimes killing.

On the other side, security has on several occasions accused the politicians of disregarding its guidelines leading to anarchy.

Speaking on Thursday, the Electoral Commission chairperson said it is high time police and DPP went for politicians who orchestrate and sponsor election violence.

“The issue of not the lack of adequate laws. We have the laws but the problem is implementing them. There are people who mislead our youths and turn them into foot soldiers to go and commit violence acts to confront security but also cause mayhem downtown. We should go for them as architects of violence.”

“They might not be on the frontline of the violent episodes but are there in the background. We want prosecutors and police to go for those people for inciting our youths to engage in such acts which are criminal.”