URN.During the candidate’s briefing by the Electoral Commission and security agencies at Soroti University on Wednesday evening, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the FDC Secretary General tasked the commission and security heads to explain why the numberless vehicles are on the streets.
There was an increase in the number of numberless vehicles and security points in Soroti city Wednesday night ahead of the Soroti East MP by- election. Although the numberless vehicles started arriving in Soroti city on Monday, security started mounting roadblocks on Wednesday evening, the eve of the by-election.
The numberless vehicles comprise police patrol cars, RDC’s double cabins and executive cars driven by the ministers, the NRM bigwigs and drones. They are seen patrolling the streets in Soroti without any interference by the security agencies.
The development triggered concern from the opposition Forum for Democratic Change- FDC party members. They say that the existence of the numberless vehicles, some of which are covered or plucked out by the occupants is suspicious. The FDC members, whose candidate was ejected from Parliament by the Court of Appeal, said the ruling party used similar methods in Omoro to secure victory.
During the candidate’s briefing by the Electoral Commission and security agencies at Soroti University on Wednesday evening, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, the FDC Secretary General tasked the commission and security heads to explain why the numberless vehicles are on the streets. Mafabi and his party president, Patrick Amuriat Oboi, said that they are going to attack the numberless vehicles should they be seen interfering with the polls.
However, both the police and Electoral Commission officials said that they are not aware of the numberless vehicle in town. Moses Mwanga, the East Kyoga Regional Police Commander, promised to track the said vehicles using the Closed- Circuit Television CCTVs if they are indeed in the city.
Oscar Gregg Ageca, the East Kyoga Regional Police Spokesman, said that the concerned residents should report the suspicious vehicles to the police. But at Soroti University, the police and the army were the ones guarding the numberless vehicles. The guards wouldn’t allow any Journalist with a camera or phone to take photos of the numberless vehicles at the university.
When asked, Mwanga said that roadblocks are meant for security purposes. The roadblocks are mounted along all the highways leading to the city. The voters are expected to decide between the Forum of Democratic Change (FDC) party candidate, Moses Attan Okia, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, Herbert Edmond Ariko and Pascal Amuriat from Uganda People’s Congress (UPC).
