Police say they will arrest and detain anyone who orchestrates a parallel swearing-in ceremony, including Bobi Wine, or those who participate in it.
The Joint Task Police force has revealed that they will arrest and detain any person, including Bobi Wine who organizes, participates, or stages any parallel swearing-in ceremony.
President Yoweri Tibuhaburwa Museveni who gained 58% in the January polls is expected to be sworn in as Uganda’s president for another term on Wednesday.
However, while addressing a press conference on Monday at the police headquarters in Naguru, Fred Enanga the police spokesperson revealed that they have got names of opposition leaders who want to stage their swearing-in ceremonies.
Enanga who was the first to hit at the National Unity Platform party leader, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine said the police has received information that the latter is planning to hold a parallel swearing-in ceremony in an unknown hotel in Iganga.
“The Candidate continues together with some of his supporters to declare himself as the President-Elect. We want to remind him and his supporters that the voices of the electorate were clearly heard. He is therefore, not the legitimate or duly Elected President of the People of Uganda,” Enanga revealed.
“As a potential leader, we urge him to play his politics with full respect for the rule of law. We know that such Kangaroo inaugurations are not uncommon with runners up in the previous Presidential Elections. It simply remains symbolic without the accompanying entitlements and privileges of a legitimate Head of State.”
In addition, he warned that any judicial officer, organiser or media house that will participate in broadcasting such illegal swearing-in will be held accountable.
“Therefore, any judicial officer, organiser and or media house that will participate in covering the illegitimate parallel swearing-in in Iganga or any other place, should prepare to face the consequences. Such acts of impunity must stop in exchange for rule of law. It is illegal and treasonous,” Enanga added.
This will not be the first time an opposition leader has sworn himself in as President.
In 2016, the Forum for Democratic Change flagbearer then, Dr Kizza Besigye who had been a candidate in the presidential polls swore himself in as president before he was arrested and detained in Karamoja.
This, however, comes at a time when the police have surrounded Kyagulanyi’s Magere home with fears that he might mobilize the public to disorganise the president’s swearing-in.
The arrest was confirmed by the NUP party spokesperson, Joel Ssenyonyi via his Facebook page.
“Police and the military have surrounded Hon Kyagulanyi’s home in Magere, and also deployed heavily around NUP headquarters in Kamwokya. When you’re eating something you stole, you eat in panic. Mr. Museveni stole the just concluded election, that’s why he is in panic!,” Ssenyonyi said.
