President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has said the opposition assisted by some foreign elements had planned to massively rig the 2016 presidential elections, bribe and kill people in the country.
Museveni who ultimately won the February polls with 60.2 percent made the remarks during a Saturday function he held to congratulate the joint armed and security organs for securing the election process at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds.
Read also; the untold story how Museveni survived an insider plot to oust him during the 2011 election.
The President while addressing commanders and officers of the UPDF, Uganda Police Force and the Uganda Prisons Service said that the opposition plans to cause colossal mayhem during and after the electoral period were neutralized.
“The intelligence bodies helped us so much. Some elements here aided by some people somewhere had planned to cheat in the elections, bribe voters, commit arson, and kill people during the electoral period,” Museveni said.
“The capable security put in place made it possible for us to avert the would-be unfortunate situations. We now have capacity to deal with anything and I really thank these men uniform,” he added.
Security was heightened on the streets of Kampala City and major towns during the middle of presidential campaigns, on the voting day and days after the results declaration by the Electoral Commission.
Soldiers having fun at the Kololo event
The Police`s Field Force Unit officers who put on multicolored uniform akin to the army tone and the no
nonsense red top Military Police officers were regularly on foot and vehicle patrols.
There were no major incidents registered during the election period save for a few incidents such as one in Ntungamo district where supporters of President Museveni clashed with those of former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi who stood on the independent ticket.
The Inspector of General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura also mentioned about the Ntungamo in the same event at Kololo.
The incident in the western district according to police was commanded by Mbabazi’s former head of security detail, Christopher Aine who went into hiding afterwards for months before reappearing last month seeking to be pardoned.
In August and September 2015 government also silently dealt with the entry of $6m that was sent by a powerful European nation to the now defunct opposition loose alliance TDA.
The money according to security sources was sent through the law firm of a top TDA official based in London. The TDA however later “died” a natural death when FDC’s Dr. Kizza left the group. Besigye got 35% of the vote while Mbabazi who continued with the TDA symbols and slogans got a paltry 1.4 percent.