The armed personnel comprising of soldiers of the Uganda People's Defense Force (UPDF), Uganda Police Force and Special Police Constables (SPCs) numbering more than 15 in each group have been patrolling the major streets of Gulu City
There is heavy deployment armed security personnel in Gulu City
ahead of tomorrow’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
The armed personnel comprising of soldiers of the Uganda People's Defense Force
(UPDF), Uganda Police Force and Special Police Constables (SPCs) numbering more
than 15 in each group have been patrolling the major streets of Gulu City since morning.
Major Telesphor Turyamumanya, the Fourth Division Barracks Army Spokesperson
says that the security deployment is a signal to anyone that may plan to cause
insecurity to the people ahead of the voting date.
Telesphor noted that as security they will not take chances to see unsuspected
rowdy people or even politicians disturbing the peace within the city noting
that intelligence report has it that some people want to stage illegal
roadblocks within the City area.
He explained that the deployment will be maintained before, during and after
the elections to ensure sanity and maximum security in all corners of Gulu City
and throughout.
//Cue in: ‘’do not see…
Cue out: …Independent Electoral Commission.’’//
But Michael Okello, a businessman in Gulu City protested the deployment noting
that it is intimidating to people and only meant to cause fear and panic.
While addressing journalists from the Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) on
Wednesday Patrick Jimmy Okema the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson warned
that anyone who will want to cause chaos during the elections risks taking a
bullet.
Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), religious, elders and political heads have
called for a non-violent election.
Emmy Daniel Ojara is a young journalist and has been practicing since 2013, during which he covered land rights violation in the contested Apaa and Lakang in Amuru as his first take ups while at Gulu Fm, Favor Fm and later Paidha Fm and Speak Fm where he is still attached.
Human rights abuses and denied access to land by security and government agencies has been the major aftermath of the contest over the lands. The underprivileged such as women, children and the elderly faced challenges in accessing soc
