KAMPALA – Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Patrick Amuriat Oboi has said that he can only respond to summons by the Electoral Commission (EC) during the Christmas holiday.
On Monday, EC insisted that Mr Amuriat and his National Unity Platform’s (NUP) counterpart Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, must appear in person to answer allegations of undermining COVID-19 SOPs during campaigns. This was after the two sent representatives, who included lawyers.
On Tuesday, Bobi Wine honoured the EC summons but Amuriat, who is supposed to meet the EC on Wednesday, said he is too busy.
“The EC has to choose to meet us. If they want me in person, the only day that I have free is December 25th (Christmas), I will abide by their request and go meet with them on that day if it becomes necessary,” he said.
“The Electoral Commission is aware of our program; we do not have the time to meet them. If we took one day off this program, we would not have time to come back to the areas we have not gone to,” he added.
Last Friday, EC chairman Justice Simon Byabakama accused Bobi Wine and Amuriat of ignoring the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) by holding processions and mass rallies thus putting the lives of Ugandans at risk of the spread of Coronavirus.
“Inspite of what the commission communicated in the stated press communications on the matter, you have continued to ignore and /or neglected observing the standard operating procedures by holding mass rallies and processions, contrary to established guidelines thereby risking the lives of the people. In the process this has resulted into unwarranted occasional confrontations with security personnel,” Justice Byabakama said in a letter dated December 10, 2020.
