‘Declare a state of emergency other than suppressing people’s freedom of expression’ – Lukwago tells Museveni

Kampala City Lord Mayor Hajji Erias Lukwago has tasked President Museveni and his government to declare a state of emergency if the pandemic situation in the country is uncontrollable other than suppressing people’s freedom of expression.

The development comes barely a week after the EC move to ban political campaigns in more than 10 districts in Uganda including Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono among others due to surging numbers of covid-19.

Lukwago who is also standing to retain his Lord mayoral seat says the government should admit there is a problem which they have failed to manage and as such declare a state of emergency.

On Monday December 28th, Erias Lukwago petitioned the court seeking orders to reverse a decision by the commission saying it is irrational and an infringement on his rights to associate.

According to recent reports, at least half of the 16 districts in which the electoral commission last Saturday suspended physical campaigns citing rising covid 19 cases, have each registered less than 400 infections in less than 10 months.

Three of the spot lighted districts that’s to say Kazo in Western Uganda and Buvuma and Kayunga in central have each under 100 confirmed covid infections in total.

A special report carried out by Daily Monitor shows that districts such as Gulu, and Amuru in the north each have more each registered 807 and 589 cases respectively but are not part of the EC pandemic hot spots.