Presidential candidate Joseph Kabuleta has vowed to continue traversing the country in search of votes ahead of the 2021 General Polls. This, after four of his colleagues have suspended campaigns in protest of continued arrests opposition presidential candidates.
On Wednesday, security officials violently arrested and detained National Unity Platform’s Robert Kyagulanyi in Luuka District. Forty eight hours later, he is yet to be charged.
Forum for Democratic Change’s Patrick Amuriat was also arrested and released on the same day.
This prompted Generals Mugisha Muntu and Henry Tumukunde to suspend their presidential campaigns until he is released. They are joined by Democratic Party’s Norbert Mao and Independent John Katumba.
Gen Muntu described the arrest of Kyagulanyi and Amuriat as ‘reckless’ and ‘disrespectful’.
“If a presidential candidate can be arrested in that manner, the population should ask themselves what happens to people who are not at that elevation?” he said before halting his campaigns.
But Kabuleta, who has been preaching a message of ‘financial liberation’ has said pulling out at such a time would only serve the interests of National Resistance Movement’s Yoweri Museveni.
“Boycott would be an effective strategy if Museveni was still capable of being shamed straight, but he isn’t”, Kabuleta said in a statement released Thursday evening. “He can choose to rent crowds in their thousands to follow him on the campaign trail, and in the same twist arrest other candidates for gathering crowds of (genuine) supporters.”
Joseph Kabuleta’s full statement on arrest of Presidential Candidates
Suspending campaigns as a form of protest over the brutal and mindless arrest of our colleagues Patrick Oboi Amuriat and Hon Kyagulanyi Robert can only serve the interests of one person — Museveni.
Boycott would be an effective strategy if Museveni was still capable of being shamed straight, but he isn’t. He can choose to rent crowds in their thousands to follow him on the campaign trail, and in the same twist arrest other candidates for gathering crowds of (genuine) supporters.
If there is one thing that Dr Besigye’s 20 years of defiance showed us, it is that the man we are dealing with is beyond any shame or embarrassment. He is beyond the pale. For him the end justifies the means. By suspending their campaigns over the various injustices and unleveled ground, our colleagues Mugisha Muntu, Henry Tumukunde and other boycotters prove that they entered this race under the illusion of fair play.
I am under no such illusions.
We are 11 candidates, which makes for a football team. If two of our players are temporarily and unjustly taken off the pitch, our best chances of victory lie in the remaining 9 players pulling up their socks and attacking the opponent ferociously. But if they walk off the pitch in protest, the match is easily won by the opponent. And remember, our opponent also happens to be the referee.
I know for certain that if I had been the one brutally arrested, I would have desired that POA and Bobi Wine carry on the fight in my absence. That is why I am not going to suspend my campaign to try and shame Museveni into levelling the ground, because I know he is incapable of shame.
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