As a result of the sanctions issued against certain officials by the United States over the human rights violations that occurred during and after the 2021 elections, the Ugandan government claimed that it was misinformed.
The Ugandan government has responded to the US government sanctions against some officials over human rights violations witnessed during and after the 2021 elections claiming that they were misinformed.
In a statement released Friday, the US government said they witnessed many violent and undemocratic scenes before, during and after the January general elections including violation of human rights.
The US, in particular, cited top opposition candidates Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine and FDC’s Patrick Oboi Amuriat who were always prevented and stopped by security operatives as they held their campaign rallies denying them access to equality.
“Today I am announcing visa restrictions on those believed to be responsible for or complicit in undermining the democratic processes in Uganda, including the country’s January,14 general election and the campaign period that preceded it,” Antony John Blinken the US government secretary of State said.
“The government of Uganda must significantly improve its record and hold accountable those responsible for the flawed election conduct, violence and intimidation. The US government will continue to evaluate additional actions against individuals complicit in undermining democracy and human rights in Uganda as well as their immediate family members,” the US secretary said further.
However, in response, the Ugandan government has rubbished the allegations stating that the US government was misinformed by reports in the local media.
They explained that the elections took place at a time when the country was struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus as a result stringent measures were imposed in addition to the standard operating procedures that every Ugandan was required to adhere to.
The Ugandan government, however, says some of the players, including presidential candidates Kyagulanyi and Patrick Amuriat, turned against this and publically declared that they would defy the measures and as it turned out they violated all the regulations in a display of impunity.
They all addressed rallies in crowded market places, in the middle of highways, defying the national electoral laws, clearly promoting lawlessness.”
“Key among the restrictions imposed to prevent the spread of the disease was the regulation of crowds at rallies to not exceed 200 people. All these parameters were signed into law and agreed on by all political contenders as the bare minimum for proceeding with the elections,” the Ugandan government responded.
On allegations of missing persons, kidnaps and disappearances, the government defended the decision saying that majority of those in prison custody were behind a staged plan B aimed at causing violence and destabilizing the county’s peace and security.
“From the beginning of the campaigns, Hon. Robert Kyagulanyi and Patrick Oboi Amuriat promised a ‘Plan B’, which according to them, was (and remains) a plan to commit violent acts, organize an insurrection, and “make Uganda ungovernable,” the government explained.
“During the campaigns, they repeatedly stoked fear and incited violence, which was a clear and present danger to the security and stability of the country and its citizens. We do not believe that any country that upholds democratic values would tolerate such a plan. Uganda certainly would not, because of its commitment to democracy and the rule of law.”
Also, the government said it was under this background that they deployed security forces in Kampala and the rest of the country to reassure the public that elections would be held and law and order would be maintained during the elections.
“It was also a clear and necessary message to those that intended (and had plans) to disrupt peace to change course. The outcome of this deployment was an election whose peaceful, free and fair nature, has been acknowledged by most in the country and beyond,” the government added.
