The Electoral Commission has advised Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine and other presidential aspirants to reach a common ground with police on how to hold presidency consultative meetings.
This was after a closed door meeting with electoral participants, including EC members, the police and those aspiring to stand. The meeting came as People Power leader Robert Kyagulanyi, was stopped from holding two meetings this week.
Addressing the media, the chairperson of the electoral commission, Justice Simon Byabakama advised police and the contestants to continue engaging each other to sort out their differences.
Byabakama said that in their view, Bobi Wine’s meetings are legal under the Presidential Elections Act but Kyagulanyi should agree with police on how the gatherings will be held in line with the Public Order Management Act.
“To us, Bobi Wine and his team must reach a consensus with police. They should sit on a round table and interpret the law on gatherings. Both teams have lawyers,” he told journalists.
Byabakama added that there was a misunderstanding in the interpretation of law which could have caused grievances between the people power group and the police.
While addressing the media after the meeting, Kyagulanyi said that they are going back to the drawing board to reschedule their meetings and police promised to cooperate with them this time.
“This time Uganda police promised to observe the law and not to behave in an illegal manner and also electoral commission promised to follow this matter very closely because that is there responsibility,” Kyagulanyi said.
He also revealed that the forces admitted their mistakes and assured them not to do it again.
“Police acknowledged the wrongs, and pledged to do better going forward including inviting us to have discussions with them where need arises. We shall be re-drawing our consultations schedule. We hope Police will operate within the law as they have pledged,” he said.