Maverick Democratic Party (DP) Electoral Commission chairperson Kennedy Mutenyu has joined his counterpart Justice Simon Mugenyi Byabakama the chairperson of the nations Electoral Commission body to assure National Unity Platform (NUP) local mobilization youths (foot soldiers) of death and imprisonment if insist in executing their principal Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu’s protest vote orders.
Among the orders Bobi Wine issued in his protest vote orders included urging voters to remain at the polling station and make sure that they record the announced results and not allowing any person to interfere with the election results.
Justice Byabakama and Mutenyu claim that what Bobi Wine is telling his supporters to do is inciting them to create chaos during and after the elections.
Mutenyu warned that across the whole world, there is no government that looks on while it’s losing power. He explained that he has participated in Uganda’s elections since 1980 and he has observed people being killed and imprisoned because of elections.
“You know there is a saying that be obedient to a sitting government so as to enjoy the one you wish for when it gets power. Currently, Eddy Mutwe, Alex Mufumbiro and other NUP foot soldiers are not going to vote, it is not because they don’t want to but it’s because they are in prison and the State is ready to imprison many others for its survival,” Mutenyu said.
He overwhelmingly supported Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba the Chief of Defence Forces (UPDF) on directing people to go home after voting explaining that the directive is going to help to avert violence and chaos at the polling station.
He claimed that people staying at the polling station will scare other voters especially the elderly from also participating in the exercise because the youths know very well that most of these elderly do not support Bobi Wine but instead support Museveni.
“I know Ugandans, they cannot be in one place for more than two hours discussing a contagious issue and they don’t fight. I’m assuring you that whoever will participate in executing the protest vote order will be killed or imprisoned,” Mutenyu added.
Justice Byabakama was the first to warn foot soldiers that he will not be responsible for their arrest at the polling station. He advised them to monitor the election results from their homes after voting.
However, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka said that it is not illegal for the voters to remain at the polling station if are in a distance of 20 metres from the condoned off area where the voting is taking place.
Brandon Kintu, the NRM parliamentary caucus boss also supported Kiwanuka saying that letting people go home and wait for the announcing of results through the media and through polling observers is very dangerous and will fuel vote rigging.
