Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday assured the presidential and parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held on Jan. 14, will be credible and fair, reported CGTN Africa. He also warned against those planning to antagonize the process.
During his New Year Day’s address to the nation, Museveni said he had received some information from the intelligence that some people were planning to rig the elections and that some election officials had been bribed.
He said there are some opposition political actors planning to use violence to rig the upcoming election.
“I would like to appeal to everybody, please, be patriotic for once. Do not seek to distort the wishes of the people of Uganda. Elections are a periodic medicine and that is why elections shouldn’t be interfered with by anybody,” the Ugandan president said.
“Therefore, I want to warn all those involved in this, do not miscalculate. Please stop because I know and I will act,” he added.
Museveni said his political party and the people of Uganda have chosen him to represent them repeatedly. He added that it was his duty to make sure that their affairs are not messed up by criminals or traitors.
He said his government has deployed an elite force in the capital Kampala to ensure the malpractice doesn’t happen and the polls are fair.
Eleven candidates are taking part in the presidential election including the 75-year-old Ugandan president who is seeking to extend his 35-year old rule in this month’s election. He came to power in 1986. The country’s Parliament has amended the laws several times in the last 20 years to remove the term and age limit in order to allow him to extend his stay in power.
Museveni is expected to face tough competition from popular pop star singer turned politician Bobi Wine whom government forces have severally arrested, reportedly tortured, and even attempted to bar from campaigning.
