The Electoral Commission (EC) Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama has said that the responsibility to have violent free elections lies in the hands of all Ugandans and not just the commission.
His comment comes amidst concerns that the violance episodes that were witnessed in the recently concluded National Resistance Movement (NRM) party primaries could repulicate themselves in the forthcoming general elections.
Speaking during a stakeholders dialogue meeting held at Kampala Serena Hotel today, Justice Byabakama said that the EC can not guarantee that there won’t be violance in the coming elections unless Ugandans decide so.
“We can have the same violance in 2021 if the people choose so. We can also say no we cannot have violance again if the people choose not to engage in it” said Byabakama.
He added, “For us as the EC we encourage Ugandans to raise up and say no to violance because it undermines our democracy, it benefits nobody. The outcome of the election is not determined by how many heads have been brocken or how much bloodshade has been spilled but it is determined by what is cast in the ballot box on the polling day.
The EC boss also urged Ugandans to observe the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) during the election processes to avoid the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
He condemed political actors who do not guide their people to follow the SOPs putting their lives at risk.
“We know COVID-19 is dangerous. We know what to do to avoid it but we are not doing it. To the political actors, your first duty is to protect yourself and the people you are convassing support and votes” He said.
Speaking during the same dialogue, Monica Musenero the presidential adiviser on epidemics and pandemics urged all politicians irrespective of the political divide to own up the message of COVID-19 prevention to safe guard their voters.
” I call upon all those participating in these elections irrespective of the political leaning to become a voice to amplify this message so that people can keep safe. COVID-19 should be your common enemy and the rest can follow” She said.
The Electoral Commission in partnership with United Nations Development Program (UNDP) organised the dialogue in observance of the International Day Of Democracy which is commemorated every 15th day of September.
The theme of the day has been “COVID-19 -a spotlight on democracy”