By Peter Ssebulime
Kampala: The Inter-religious council of Uganda has also joined the #free Bobi Wine struggle accusing governemnt for acting in a dictatorship manner with its army that traumatized innnocent Ugandans hence breaching Article 209 of Ugandan constitiution that states; “The army will cooperate with civilian authority in emergency situations and in cases of natural disaster like COVID-19.”
In the same vein, the council says it noted with concern that its not only army that behaved inhumanely but also police and making it worse, them selves enforced the deadly attacks against innocent civilians without adhering to the said COVID-19 SOPs. “Therefore, Police defied Article 21(3) that stipulates that the police shall be patriotic, professional, disciplined, competent and productive,” council leaders said.
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Read Full Statement Below
“We call upon the electoral commission and the various security organs to adhere to the human rights principals enshrined in the national objectives and practices while being law abiding and following our national constitution. While we imagine the dilemma faced by the security agencies, we call for actions that honor the rights and dignity of all Ugandans irrespective of their political affiliations.
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The army has breached Article 209 that states that the army will cooperate with civilian authority in emergency situations and in cases of natural disaster like COVID-19. We noted with concern that the police were in breach of the COVID-19 SOPs and of Article 21(3) that stipulates that the police shall be patriotic, professional, disciplined, competent and productive.
We urge all men and women in uniform to uphold the Ugandan constitution and all relevant laws and ought to treat all citizens of Uganda fairly and equally irrespective of their political affiliation.
We call for the immediate release of all people who were arrested yesterday. In the event that they committed crimes, they should be presented to the courts of law as the law stipulates.
Article 61 of the constitution mandates the electoral commission to ensure free and fair elections. As religious leaders, we expect the EC to take charge of the electoral process including the security arrangements of all political candidates and ensure an enabling environment.
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We have noted with concern increasing cases of violence across the country that threaten to undermine the integrity and fairness of our elections. We have witnessed candidates being blocked from accessing campaigns venue, media houses among others.
We are deeply concerned by the violent events that occurred in our country yesterday where the whole word witnessed brutal arrests of political candidates; Robert Kyagulanyi and Amuriat Oboi.
We call upon the electoral commission and the various security organs to adhere to the human rights principals enshrined in the national objectives and practices while being law abiding and following our national constitution.
We noted with concern that the police were in breach of the COVID-19 SOPs and of Article 21(3) that stipulates that the police shall be patriotic, professional, disciplined, competent and productive. The army has breached Article 209 that states that the army will cooperate with civilian authority in emergency situations and in cases of natural disaster like COVID-19.
While we imagine the dilemma faced by the security agencies, we call for actions that honor the rights and dignity of all Ugandans irrespective of their political affiliations. We urge all men and women in uniform to uphold the Ugandan constitution and all relevant laws and ought to treat all citizens of Uganda fairly and equally irrespective of their political affiliation.
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We call for the immediate release of all people who were arrested yesterday. In the event that they committed crimes, they should be presented to the courts of law as the law stipulates.
Article 61 of the constitution mandates the electoral commission to ensure free and fair elections. As religious leaders, we expect the EC to take charge of the electoral process including the security arrangements of all political candidates and ensure an enabling environment.
