Police has said it will not tolerate acts that incite violence as the country gears up for the presidential and parliamentary elections on Thursday next week.
Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said in a statement since the countdown to the polling day for the general elections draws closer, this period is very crucial as several candidates try to roll out their campaign strategies and messages, targeting different groups through various media channels and physical contacts.
“Although Uganda as a country has no specific threats, we have noticed an increase in acts of misinformation and outright disinformation online, through the use of negative propaganda videos and hostile footages, copycat violence, civil disturbance, conspiracy theories from enemies of the state, defacing of posters and malicious damages,” Enanga said.
He noted that there is also a challenge of unfiltered social media propaganda with multitudes of bloggers and individuals which acts altogether can lead to lawlessness and anarchy in our country.
“We continue to review several scenarios of coordinated attacks on electoral activities in the past, attacks on political leaders, kidnaps, clashes between rival groups, attacks on vehicles, radicalized youth groups and come up with multi agency response plans to counter them,” he said.
In addition, Enanga said they have information about mobilisations by different political camps of local poll watchers.
“Although this is a good initiative, of promoting vigilance, in most cases, they tend not to abide by the electoral laws and guidelines. As a result, they end up intimidating rival camps instead of protecting people’s right to vote,” he said.
He said their priority is to ensure that there are no disruptions at the polling centres, warning those who are planning on harassing voters on polling day especially elderly persons, women and new young voters.
