Tororo DPC Calls for Peaceful, Orderly LC1 Elections.

By Gabriel Oligo and Lazima Wangadya.

The Tororo District Police Commander (DPC), Martin Karekezi, has urged all Local Council One (LC1) chairperson aspirants in Tororo Municipality to conduct themselves responsibly and ensure peaceful elections.

Karekezi made the remarks during a security briefing held on Monday together with the Electoral Commission Returning Officer.

The meeting brought together all LC1 chairperson aspirants from villages across Tororo Municipality ahead of the elections.

Addressing the aspirants, the DPC encouraged them to be exemplary leaders and dedicate themselves to voluntary service for the benefit of their communities. He noted that leadership should be about serving residents and promoting development.

He explained that similar security meetings had already been conducted in the sub-counties but said he personally chose to preside over the municipality briefing because the urban elections should set a good example for the rest of the district.

According to Karekezi, residents of Tororo Municipality are expected to demonstrate high levels of civic responsibility, organisation, and discipline.

He said it would be embarrassing if violence was reported in the municipality while rural areas remained peaceful.

The DPC, therefore, called on all LC1 contestants to ensure that the elections are conducted in a peaceful, orderly, and transparent manner.

To guarantee security, Karekezi revealed that police would heavily deploy officers at every polling station across all villages in the municipality.

He added that he would personally lead the monitoring operations throughout the election process.

He reminded aspirants that they had already been briefed on the election programme, which will begin at 7:00 a.m. with voter verification before voting by lining up starts at 11:00 a.m.

Karekezi warned that anyone involved in election-related violence resulting in injuries would be held accountable, including their campaign leaders where necessary.

He also cautioned candidates against fabricating assault cases to implicate opponents, saying police would thoroughly investigate every complaint before taking action.

The DPC further warned all aspirants against voter bribery, stressing that the practice is illegal and will not be tolerated during the elections.