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Assistant RDC and other Police officers during the meeting
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By Edson Kinene
Mbarara District Assistant Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Grace Namara, has cautioned Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and opposition politicians against using human rights as an excuse to incite violence during elections. Speaking at a meeting aimed at improving cooperation between Mbarara District Local Government, the Rwizi Region Police, and Human Rights Defenders from Ankole and Kigezi regions, Namara emphasized the government’s role in maintaining peace and warned that any attempts to misuse human rights to create unrest would not be tolerated.
Held at Hotel Riviera in Mbarara City, the meeting included members of the Grass Root Defenders Network, an umbrella organization representing Human Rights Defenders in the region. Namara stressed that while human rights are important, they should not be used as a pretext for undermining the peace of the electoral process. "To ensure a peaceful election, there are limitations to human rights, especially when individuals use them as an excuse to act outside the law," she said. "The government will not allow disorder just because some are hiding behind the notion of human rights."
Namara also took the opportunity to warn individuals and groups who have begun early election campaigns, reminding them to comply with legal guidelines.
Take charge
Meanwhile, Kanyina Brian, the Rwizi Regional Police Crime Intelligence Officer, urged Human Rights Defenders to take charge of overseeing elections themselves rather than relying on foreign observers. He also encouraged them to promote voter participation within their communities.
Bonny Beinomugisha, Coordinator of the Legal Room, called on the government to adhere to Chapter 4 of Uganda’s Constitution, which outlines citizens' rights, particularly Article 38 (1), which grants every Ugandan citizen the right to participate in government affairs. Beinomugisha highlighted the need for better civic education, especially for women, whose voting rights have often been undermined.
Susan Kentaro, Programs Manager of the Grass Root Defenders Network, expressed her organization's commitment to collaborating with local authorities to enhance civic education within the district, suggesting that a Memorandum of Understanding be signed to formalize the partnership.
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