By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
The Electoral Commission (EC) has raised concern over the increasing violation of guidelines on campaign processions, warning that the growing defiance is disrupting public order and heightening tension between candidates and security forces.
EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama said several presidential and parliamentary candidates continue to stage unlawful processions that block roads, obstruct public movement and sometimes lead to confrontations with police.
“These processions disrupt the mobility of other road users and create threats in the affected areas,” Byabakama said. “Some of the clashes we have seen could have been avoided if candidates adhered to the agreed-upon campaign schedules.”
He noted that candidates are diverting from the authorised routes and making unscheduled stopovers in markets, trading centres and roadside gatherings to address supporters, a practice strictly prohibited under the campaign guidelines.
According to the EC, campaign programs for all candidates are approved in consultation with security agencies and candidates’ agents, arguing that any deviations amount to a breach of the law.
“This habit of stopping wherever crowds gather is unlawful. You are expected to go only to the designated venues agreed upon with security,” Byabakama said.
The Commission also faulted candidates for holding processions late into the night, despite clear guidelines requiring activities to end at 6pm. Some candidates, he said, have continued campaigning beyond 8pm and 9pm, further straining relations with security forces deployed to maintain order.
Byabakama warned that such acts “distort the electoral process” and fuel incidents of violence, including poster defacement, harassment of rival supporters and inflammatory speech during impromptu gatherings.
His remarks come days after the Uganda Police Force issued a separate warning against unauthorised processions and the alleged misuse of ambulances to evade security controls. However, critics and some election stakeholders argue that the directives disproportionately target opposition candidates, particularly the National Unity Platform (NUP), whose rallies frequently draw large crowds.
The EC chairperson said the Commission has so far held two meetings with candidate agents and security to address the emerging concerns, with another scheduled next week.
“We will not hesitate to apply sanctions against individuals or parties that violate campaign guidelines,” he said, urging candidates and supporters to follow the law and maintain civility.
Byabakama added that achieving peaceful elections requires the cooperation of all actors. “If stakeholders choose to act within the law, these challenges can end immediately,” he said.
