Former Senior Presidential Secretary Joseph Tamale Mirundi has said the escalating numbers of covid-19 cases and death are as result of opposition politicians who disobeyed campaign rules during the 2020/21 general elections.
During an interview with TMO YouTube channel over the weekend, Mirundi disclosed that the laxity in the implementation of Covid-19 guidelines which were put in place by the Electoral Commission last year in November is the reason why innocent Ugandans are suffering. He added that laws were not respected by some groups of politicians especially the opposition.
“Many people in the opposition think that whatever comes from the President is intended for politicking. We did not have regular campaigns, but we had scientific ones. This was intended to ban political rallies because they were a threat. However, nobody is talking about the opposition members who defied the electoral laws, the likes of Bobi Wine and others violated the guidelines by holding mass gatherings. Surprisingly nobody is talking about it that we are now reaping from the failure of the opposition to adhering to rules,” the veteran journalist said.
Mirundi added that although President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who was the incumbent was under pressure, he adhered to rules.
“Who undermined Museveni’s first efforts? These are the opposition and the moment you don’t tell Ugandans that dead bodies and sick people we are having now are a result of the opposition who disobeyed the covid-19 campaign rule during elections, these same people will do it again in the future.”
Mirundi further noted that if Covid-19 rules during the recent elections were amended with serious implementors, Bobi Wine and other violators would have been in prison and Ugandans would not be dying now.
Before the 2021elections campaigns, the EC chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, unveiled a roadmap and announced the proposal for virtual campaigns, banning mass rallies and restricted canvassing of votes to media platforms. He noted that the scientific campaigns were seen as a measure to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines of social distancing.
However, several opposition politicians failed to adhere to the directives alluding that they were not given chances on both radio and television stations thus holding ordinary campaigns.
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