The Electoral Commission has been challenged to ensure strict enforcement of election laws and guidelines, to minimize tensions and resultant acts of violence that may disrupt the country’s election cycle.
Members of the Civil Society Organizations and opinion leaders in the greater Masaka sub region have during their stakeholders’ dialogue noted with concern the repeated incidents of violence so far witnessed in the area as the different candidates canvass for support in the run upto next year’s general elections.
This week alone, police registered four incidents of campaign violence in Masaka, Bukomansimbi and Kalungu districts, where candidates and supporters of rival political camps engaged in scuffles that also resulted into physical injuries.
The most prominent incidents include the clashes in which Ronald Evans Kanyike, the Member of Parliament and National Unity Platform candidate for Bukoto East constituency in Masaka who was physically assaulted by supporters of Joanita Nalule, the National Resistance Movement candidate for Masaka district Woman MP, who accused him of intercepting their campaign procession.
The other fighting occurred in Bukomansimbi North Constituency in Bukomansimbi district, where campaign teams of the NUP candidate Christine Ndiwalana clashed with those of her NRM counterpart Salim Kisekka on allegations of gun misuse during campaigns to threaten supporters.
Charles Kasibante, the Executive Director of South Buganda Anticorruption and Civil Rights Organization observes that such incidents of violence can be curtailed if the EC strictly enforces the laws and regulations of campaign.
The perpetrators of the violence are according to him, gullible young people who join politicians’ campaigns caravans for brief gratification, hence participating in the disruptive activities that gravely affect the election process.
He prefers that in addition to heightening civic sensitization to enlighten the public about their roles in ensuring peaceful co-existence amid their political differences, the Electoral Commission needs to tighten the grip on errant supporters and candidates.
Kasibante observes that the Electoral Commission has not effectively performed its responsibility of conducting voters’ education, thereby abdicating the duty to political parties and candidates who are instead inciting tensions and biases.
He says that it is high time, the Electoral Commission started deploying its agents at all campaign meeting of candidates, to ensure that the messages delivered are not harmful to society and don’t fan tensions.
He has on the other hand had expressed concern over the growing habit of high commercialization of politics, arguing that this has rendered elections as a mere playing field for trading hostilities among the players.
Meanwhile, Janat Nakisekka, the Democratic Front (DF) party Women leader for Masaka City suggests that in areas where the Electoral Commission senses violence, it should consider organizing joint campaign rallies for candidates as a remedy to candidates that incite violence against their opponents.
She argues that the growing trend of candidates to capitalize their campaigns on personalities as opposed to issues of their constituency, is largely to blame for the clashes witnessed in the area, a situation that requires the Electoral Commission to step forward, to directly guide campaigns.
William Waswa, an independent candidate contesting for Chairperson of Bukakata Sub County in Masaka district, observes that the laxity of the EC in enforcing its own guidelines has given the politician a leeway to deploy irresponsible groups in their campaign teams, hence worsening the situation.
Besides, he has also called upon the security agencies to ensure fairness in the enforcement of public order during campaigns, arguing that their apparent bias also breeds tension among political actors.
Harriet Kashagire, the Central Southern Regional Elections Officer, says that they have taken note of the concerns, but called upon the stakeholders to also actively engage the electorates on the importance of peaceful elections.
She indicates that the Commission is continuously reminding the candidates and other political players about the Electoral guidelines, indicating they are going to summon parties in the identified hotpots for harmonization meetings and warn them against any excesses.
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