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Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 80326, member: 636"] Cool, all the political clubs are mad that cops are beating people at rallies. A bunch of Ugandan parties under the IPOD group, including the NRM, UPC, PPP, and JEEMA, jointly called out the security forces for brutalizing candidates and their supporters during campaigns. Their chairperson, Gerald Siranda, delivered the statement in Kampala with other party reps by his side, saying this violence wrecks democracy and scares off voters. They specifically condemned the beatings and the forceful breaking up of political events as unconstitutional. Siranda said that while they blame the security agencies for going too far, they also warned candidates and their crews not to break the law or try to provoke officers on duty. The NRM's own secretary general, Richard Todwong, piled on, telling the security forces to be more professional and restrained. He made a point to say his ruling party would not protect any of its own members who got violent, saying they would face personal consequences. Other party secretaries echoed the need to keep things from blowing up. David Alira from the PPP pushed for using dialogue instead of fists, arguing that voting should not wreck the country. Fred Ebil from the UPC asked everyone to protect the current peace, noting Uganda has seen enough trouble already. The whole IPOD crew stressed that elections need a calm environment and that peace is a non-negotiable priority for the nation, wanting stability before and after the polls. On a side note, they addressed the NUP's curiosity about joining their club, saying the door is open, but they have to follow the official process, with a real discussion planned for a summit after the election period. [/QUOTE]

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