Jude Mbabali, the Democratic Party Parliamentary candidate for Bukoto Central in Masaka district is in trouble over his alleged involvement in showing Film critical of President Yoweri Museveni's Government.
Ephraim Tugume Mugisha, the Masaka Returning officer has ordered police to investigate and arrested Mbabali for conducting his campaigns at night which involve showing anti-Museveni Films.
The controversial movie is called Speak Out. It was produced by Konrad Adenear and acted by Patricko Mujuuka and a number of actors from Uganda's Theater Factory. The Movie, which the URN reporter has watched exposes the failed services delivery in the country. Mbabali is contesting against Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, the Speaker of Parliament.
Speak Out Movie focuses on Bukoto Central, Ssekandi's constituency where issues like road network, education, poverty, health sector are in a sorry state. But surprisingly, this movie also highlights how Museveni and his NRM Government uses soldiers and anti-riot police to forcefully disperse Ugandans every time they come up to demonstrate against issues affecting them.
Mugisha says he has ordered for Mbabali's arrest because the movie he shows contravenes electoral laws. He says police officers have seen him on many occasion showing this film in Bisanje, Kabonera, Kamuziinda, Kyanamukaka trading center showing this film at night which breaks parliamentary act on campaigning at night.
According to Tugume, if his probe team finds him guilty, Mbabali could be disqualified.
// Cue in: "We have first of all....."
Cue out: "....court will pronounce itself."//
But Jude Mbabaali, the Bukoto Central parliamentary candidate accused of showing this anti-Museveni Government Film has admitted showing it at night. Mbabaali has also vowed to not only hand it over to police but he says he will continue showing it at night.
Mbabaali dares EC and Police to arrest him over the film. He claims that there is no law restricting him from showing and watching this film with his supporters at night. Mbabali has blasted EC's Tugume of working on the influence of Speaker Ssekandi to intimidate him.
// Cue in: "No section....."
Cue out: ".....civic education for them."//
Speaker Edward Ssekandi has not responded on accusations that he is influencing electoral commission to arrest his rival Mbabaali. But Luke Ssekamwa, one of Ssekandi's campaign managers accuses Mbabaali of interpreting the film in a manner which is critical to Museveni's NRM government. Ssekamwa could not however explain what is wrong with relating the issues in the film to the day-today-living conditions of Ugandans.
On Saturday this week, Mbabali's supporters threatened to lynch Luke Ssekamwa, an NRM mobilizer who stormed with group of Ssekandi's supporters and attempted to confiscate the Film from Mbabali at Bisanje village.
Mbabali is contesting against NRM's Edward Ssekandi, Steven Muwulya, an Independent candidate, and Nasser Mwanje also an independent candidate.
