Denis
Sekabira the National Unity Platform Parliamentary Candidate for Katikamu North
is on the run after escaping arrest for defying the suspension of campaigns by
the Electoral Commission. Sekabira escaped arrest after police officers cornered
him at Luwero Central Market in Luwero town council where he was found
campaigning.
Luwero is
one of the 11 districts and cities that were affected by the suspension of
campaigns resulting from a surge in Covid-19 infections. The others are Mbarara,
Kabarole, Luwero, Kasese, Masaka, Wakiso, Kabarole, Jinja, Kalungu, Kazo and
Tororo. However, in Luwero parliamentary candidates have intensified their
campaigns in disregard of the ban.
The Luwero District Police Commander, Abraham Tukundane
explains that Sekabira’s campaigns expose the vendors and other people at risk
of COVID-19 infections. Tukundane says that although Sekabira managed to escape
they are hunting for him to answer charges of defying the EC guidelines.
He says that they also managed to impound four campaign vehicles
from the campaign venue as part of their investigations.
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They include the sound track Toyota Canter UAN 629X, Mark
Premio UBA 2201 and Harrier registration number UBE 427L. Tukundane has reminded
the Officer In-charge of Police Stations not to allow any candidate to hold
public campaigns in the last lap in adherence to the EC guidelines.
Sekabira
denies campaigning in the market, saying that he was only making a drive
through the road.
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Sekabira is running against seven candidates including Gaddafi Nasur from NRM,
Charles Sebyala-DP and Ronald Kizza Ssenyange, Fredrick Makaire and Ronald
Ndawula, all independents. Recently Brenda Nabukenya, the National Unity
Platform candidate for Luwero Woman MP Seat told URN that they had resolved to
defy the ban because EC didn't consult them, saying the suspension of the
campaigns is political.
Nabukenya alleged that health officials at the district headquarters have
repeatedly made it clear that most COVID 19 cases are registered at Bombo
Military Hospital, which conducts tests among soldiers from other districts.
