Police have announced the deployment of nine senior officers, including those at the rank of directors and deputy directors to take charge of the forthcoming NRM primaries.
With the ruling party primaries set for Thursday, July, 18, violence is anticipated and to avert this, Police have deployed their most senior officers to the nine zones demarcated for this purpose.
According, AIGP Moses Kafeero, the Director Human Resource Development and Training will be in charge of Busoga while AIGP Stepen Tanui, the director for fire and rescue services will be in charge of Northern Uganda.
On the other side, Commissioner of Police Patrick Lawot will be in charge of Karamoja , Commissioner Paul Nkore in charge of Kyoga zone, Godfrey Maate in charge of Masaka, Moses Muluya in charge of the Albertine region while the Kampala Metropolitan Commander, Commissioner of Police, Richard Ecega will be in charge of security in the area.
Others are Commissioner of Police, Hilary Kulayigye who will be in charge of security for the Southn West Zone , with headquarters in Mbarara while Commissioner of Police, Dennis Namuwoza will be in charge of security during NRM primaries in the Rwenzori zone with headquarters in Fort Portal City.
A simple analysis of the nine senior officers deployed shows all of them have had a background of being in charge of operations.
Police on Monday said they are not taking any chances , considering what happened in the previous primaries for the ruling NRM party.
Police spokesperson, Kituuma Rusoke said they are on high alert, working together with other security agencies to avert any chaos.
“We have observed rising tensions manifesting in violent attacks, hiring of goons, vandalism of vehicles, waylaying of rival parties, and the use of radio platforms to defame opponents through malicious allegations and sectarian innuendos,”Rusoke said.
“Additionally, disruptive behaviours such as deploying noisy public address systems to interrupt rallies have been reported.”
Previously, there have been cases of violence reported in several parts of the country including the highly volatile Ssembabule and Arua among others.
According to police, they have mapped out electoral hotspots and engaged political actors and other stakeholders extensively.
“The Inspector General of Police (IGP) has conducted physical visits and assessments in districts including Sembabule, Mbarara, Isingiro, Kabale, Rukiga, and Rukungiri, meeting with political actors, district security committees, and candidates involved in the NRM primaries. District security committees are actively working to promote harmony and maintain order.”
Rusoke explained that candidates moving with large groups of people, hiring of goons and carrying of guns at the tally centres will not be allowed.
“The IGP has given commanders firm assurances that they should work under the law and will be protected . We don’t expect people carrying firearms at the tally centers and a candidate is allowed to move with only four people to the tally centre. This act of coming of many people to overwhelm electoral process will not be allowed,” Rusoke said.
He warned that anyone involved violence during the forthcoming NRM primaries will have to face the wrath of the law.
“There is a tendency for people to think you commit an offence and when elections are over you go back to normal business, you will account for all your offences no matter when.”
