A section of residents in Soroti city took to the streets to celebrate the nomination of Patrick Amuriat Oboi as a candidate in next year's presidential elections.
Several city dwellers were glued to their television sets at home while others flocked video halls to follow events at Kyambogo playground in Kampala where nominations of presidential candidates were taking place.
Immediately after Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission declared Amuriat, a duly nominated candidate, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) officials and supporters in Soroti took to the streets chanting his name. They were joined by other supporters who included boda boda cyclists.
Amuriat is expected to launch his presidential campaigns in Soroti City grounds on November 17.
Several city dwellers were glued to their television sets at home while others flocked video halls to follow events at Kyambogo playground in Kampala where nominations of presidential candidates were taking place.
Immediately after Simon Mugenyi Byabakama, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission declared Amuriat, a duly nominated candidate, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) officials and supporters in Soroti took to the streets chanting his name. They were joined by other supporters who included boda boda cyclists.
Amuriat is expected to launch his presidential campaigns in Soroti City grounds on November 17.
AMURIAT CONDEMNS POLICE
Amuriat condemned the manner, in which he was handled by security prior to his nomination. Amuriat was intercepted by a joint security team comprising the army and police and was forcedly driven to Kyambogo nomination centre, where he arrived without shoes.
Amuriat, who was nominated shortly after Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate told the Electoral Commission chairperson justice Simon Byabakama that he was dragged to the nomination as a captive.
He told journalists outside the nomination tent that he was heading to his party offices to pick documents and join party leaders who were supposed to lead him to Kyambogo for the nomination but was surrounded by police and army men.
Amuriat, who was nominated shortly after Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate told the Electoral Commission chairperson justice Simon Byabakama that he was dragged to the nomination as a captive.
He told journalists outside the nomination tent that he was heading to his party offices to pick documents and join party leaders who were supposed to lead him to Kyambogo for the nomination but was surrounded by police and army men.
"I came to this nomination a prisoner when I tried to access my office in Najjanankumbi to get vital documents for what has happened here today. I was kidnapped by the security forces, forced into a saloon vehicle, brutalized. I wear a lot of bruises on my body and I feel body pain. I come here without shoes not because it is my choice to walk barefoot but this shows the kind of dictatorship that we're up against. We've always preached to Ugandans and said to them Mr. Museveni runs a full-blown dictatorship," Amuriat said.
He, however, said this kind of treatment will not deter him from continuing with his campaigns, especially now that he has been duly nominated a presidential candidate.
He highlighted key points in his manifesto program and among them is the continuation of the defiance campaign that was started by his predecessor, Dr. Kizza Besigye with the aim of unseating President Yoweri Museveni. He also said that he intends to lead a campaign aimed at establishing a presidency that will rejuvenate the status of low-income earners.
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