The Bishop of Kiyinda Mityana Diocese Rt Reverend Anthony Zziwa, also the Chairperson of the Uganda episcopal conference, has expressed his dissatisfaction with the law enforcement agencies who have made it a habit of harassing journalists and politicians especially during the election campaign.
Bishop Zziwa was speaking at the Congregation during Wednesday’s Ashes Mass at St, Noah Kiyinda Church in Mityana and said that the violators of human rights, try to wear masks, and hide the lights on their clothes which means that what they do is all against the law.
“We are preparing for the 2026 elections, Whereas the Electoral Commission has not announced campaigns yet except in one area of Kawempe, as the country we are going to elect leaders next year. But some of the acts we have seen so far are sad!, for example, what we have seen in the areas of Kawempe, beating people, with metal or wires, shooting people, those with Television you have seen, some people have broken legs, others have got serious injuries”. He said.
“The people who believed to be peacekeepers do it while they have masked themselves only with their nose left out, What is that?, what’s the purpose of this? Now what kind of peacekeeper are those and how can such a person protect people and their properties ?, law enforcement officers have name tags on their uniforms but these have no names,” Bishop Zziwa wondered.
“They seem to be intent on intimidating Ugandans who also want to run for positions.” He added.
On Monday, fresh chaos erupted again at the National Unity Party offices in Makerere Kavule, where NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) and other political leaders were leading a procession to a rally for Elias Nalukoola, the party’s candidate in the Kawempe North by-election.
Masked operatives of the Joint Anti-Terrorism Taskforce fired tear gas and beat up NUP supporters before they arrested 16 of them. The 16 supporters were remanded to Luzira prison for obstruction, malicious damage, and common nuisance charges. Several others are nursing injuries in hospitals over the brutality.
Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola, the NUP candidate for Kawempe North MP By-election was also beaten during nomination before he was arrested and later released without charge. A journalist, Miracle Ibra, is still nursing an eye injury after he was struck by an object by the operatives.
The Electoral Commission has set 13th March 2025 as polling day for Kampala North MP by-elections, but there are fears that acts of violence are likely to escalate before and during the date.
Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, the six weeks leading to Easter
He also condemned the crimes, murder, theft, and domestic violence that are rampant nowadays.
The Bishop through his Diocesan theme of Remembering Christ, Bringing Hope and Peace to the World, asked people to repent and apologize to those they have affected as we enter the fasting period.
