Uganda’s Inspector General of Police warned civilians on Friday to not lollygag around polling stations after casting their ballots in next week’s presidential vote or they might “regret why they were born”.
“We try to guard your lives… we shall beat you for your own sake!” said captain Martin Ochola at a joint security briefing.
The warnings come because the country faces a tense election on January 14, which has seen opposition candidates arrested, rallies banned and protested killed in clashes.
“We shall use reasonable force to make sure that you simply don’t go where there’s a risk,” Ochola laughed as he made the comments which may be seen during a video posted by the Daily Monitor.
Ochola also warned: “I would really like to assure the entire country that whoever causes trouble will regret why his or her mother gave birth to him or her.”
The comments come because the opposition has called on voters to remain after casting their vote and overlook ballot counting as they fear fraud .
Ochola said: “This is against the EC (Electoral Commission) guidelines and there’s no evidence of voter fraud,”
Journalists have also been the target of attacks by authorities, especially those covering opposition candidates and anti-government protests
They have been arrested, beaten or had their equipment confiscated or destroyed by the Police.
But Ochola justified the violence in saying “We’ve been beating journalists to restrain them from going where there’s danger.”
“Police sometimes beat journalists to assist them…for their own safety,” he said, adding he wouldn’t apologise for police actions.
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