Seven parliamentary candidates in Masaka, including the Speaker of parliament, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi and the ICT State Minister, John Alintuma Nsambu, have been summoned for their alleged involvement in campaign violence in Masaka district.
The Electoral commission has summoned them for stirring campaign violence in their respective constituencies.
Others summoned are Florence Namayanja, the Democratic Party candidate for Bukotp East, Jude Mbabaali, the Democratic Party candidate for Bukoto central, and Justine Juuko, the IPC candidate for Bukoto East. Also on the list is Nasser Mwanje, the Bukoto central independent candidate, Steven Muwulya an independent candidate.
Ephraim Tugume Mugisha, the Masaka Electoral commission registrar, says he decided to summon the named candidates because of increasing reports of clashes in their campaign trail.
Tugume says the summoned candidates will face electoral commission disciplinary tribunal on Tuesday, to explain why they have defied electoral commission campaign guidelines against holding rallies in the same venues.
Tugume says those who face bloody campaign charges include ICT State Minister John Alintuma Nsambu and Florence Namayanja whose supporters have clashed a number of times in Bukoto East leaving scores injured.
Tugume also says Ssekandi and his rival Mbabaali who are contesting for Bukoto central will also defend themselves against claims that they failed to refrain their supporters from clashing in Kyanamukaka and Kabonera sub counties.
According to Tugume, other candidates are facing bribery allegations and defacing their rival's posters.
Florence Namayanja' and Jude Mbabaali, have confirmed receipt of the summons. Dick Lukyamuzi, Namayanja's campaign manager in charge of media and publicity, says that his candidate is ready to defend herself. He says he is ready to testify against Minister Nsambu's and his supporters who always storm their rallies and provoke them into clashes.
Minister Alintuma Nsambu, declined to pick his phone when URN contacted him for a comment on allegations that his supporters usually storm Namayanja's campaign rallies.
Jude Mbabaali, the Democratic Party candidate who also summoned over violence has accused Electoral commission of double standards.
Mbabali says he will use the forum to task Tugume Mugisha, the Masaka returning officer to explain why he disregarded his formal complaint against Speaker Edward Ssekandi's continued use of official government vehicles and policemen.
Mbabaali alleges that Ssekandi uses policemen who guard him to star violence against his supporters.
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Edward Ssekandi has not commented on the allegations against him because he declined to pick his phone.
According to electoral commission, all the summoned candidates with convene at Masaka municipality council chambers on Tuesday.
