IN a few days to come, Uganda will be conducting National Elections, and in particular, the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections on the 18th of February, 2016, in line with the election roadmap of the Electoral Commission.
It is a very crucial stage in the electoral process, as candidates, in their final push, finalise their roll out of campaign strategies and messages, targeting different groups through various media channels and physical contacts.
As we enter the polling week, holding peaceful and credible elections is our number one priority and we want to take this opportunity to thank the public and all the political actors, for their strong commitment and support, in spite of isolated incidents of political violence, for observing peace and abiding by the electoral laws, in over 900 campaign rallies concluded so far.
We appeal to the general public to make the objective of holding peaceful and credible elections your number one priority as well.
I take this opportunity also to thank and pay tribute to members of the Police, sister security agencies, crime preventers and other members of the public, who have selflessly supported us in the task of keeping the Country safe and secure.
We therefore call upon all candidates, their supporters, political parties and other political actors to continue being vigilant and calm, and refrain from violence or other provocations during these remaining few days.
I also urge you to avoid acts of negative campaigning and dirty-politics usually done by candidates who are behind in the polls.
For instance, we have credible information of plans by individuals who want to promote violence by declaring parallel results to those of the Electoral Commission, attempt uprisings through the transportation of voters immediately after elections and before the declaration of results, incitement to violence through social media, civil disturbance, voter intimidation, burning of petrol stations, armed rebellion through kidnaps/disappearance of opposition politicians, attacks on vulnerable police officers and police posts for guns; to mention but a few.
We want to inform and assure all Ugandans that we aware of these plans, and have not only adequately, but strategically deployed our manpower and logistics, to counter all forms of threats both domestic and international.