Gulu City, Uganda: The Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Laroo–Pece Division in Gulu City, Peter Banya, has accused some 2026 political aspirants of deliberately orchestrating their own arrests with the help of rogue police officers, to attract media attention and illicit sympathy from voters.
Speaking during a civic engagement forum organised by Fidelis Leadership Institute, Banya said several candidates were abandoning issue-based campaigns in favour of “headline politics,” staging incidents aimed at projecting themselves as victims of state harassment.
He noted that despite such isolated theatrics, Gulu City has witnessed “one of the most peaceful” electioneering periods in recent years. Banya assured the public that security agencies remain committed to ensuring a safe and fair electoral environment.
ASP Patrick Kidega Anywar, Officer-in-Charge of Gulu Central Police Station, highlighted several emerging challenges, including candidates campaigning past the 6:00 p.m. deadline, defacement and malicious removal of campaign posters, a surge in cyber harassment, which was not common in previous election cycles.
Kidega said only one electoral crime case has so far been registered in court. He attributed the limited number of arrests to the public’s reluctance to report violations, despite the Electoral SOPs being widely circulated. He reassured voters that police remain fully prepared to enforce election rules throughout the voting period.
However, Erasmus Kimbowa, the Gulu District Returning Officer, reported that the electoral process remains secure and progressing on schedule, despite public concerns. He said no major security threats have been identified.
Lawyers at the forum emphasised the need for enhanced civic awareness. Dolphin Alonyo of Ms Francis Owiny & Co. Advocates urged the Electoral Commission to continuously educate voters on the roles and responsibilities of elected leaders.
Similarly, Okello Joel Oyet of Odongo & Co. Advocates advised police to widely display lists of electoral offences in public spaces, noting that many voters unknowingly commit election-related crimes—yet ignorance of the law is not a defence.
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