Tensions high, heavy police and military deployement ahead Uganda vote declaration
Photo by NTVUganda Which way Uganda? On Thursday 18, many Ugandans woke up enthusiastic, ready to put months of campaigns behind
African Feminisms, Gender, Human Rights, Peace and Conflict
Photo by NTVUganda Which way Uganda? On Thursday 18, many Ugandans woke up enthusiastic, ready to put months of campaigns behind
Uganda is set hold presidential and general elections on February 18. Eight candidates are vying for the seat but the campaign is more of a three-horse race between incumbent President Museveni, leading opposition figure and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Kizza Besigye and former Prime minister John Patrick Amama Mbabazi. The last four elections conducted during President Yoweri Museveni’s 30 years in power have all been marred with irregularities and violent incidents.
Less than a month to the vote, an increasing climate of fear hovers over the country. The Uganda Police has recruited about 11 million crime preventers whom critics say are more or less a standby government militia to be used in case things don’t go well for the regime. Besigye’s party FDC says it has 10 persons per village ready to guard their vote and he continues a message of defiance that is not fully explained. Amama Mbabazi at rallies has emphasized that his go-forward team is ready to defend the vote.
Human rights organisations have called for suspension of crime preventers to prevent election violence. And in response Inspector General of Police, Gen. Kale Kayihura is quoted in the media to have told critics to ‘go hang’ and warned that he will not ‘allow’ opposition to destabilize the country.
As the news of a final confirmation of a life presidency in Zimbabwe trickles in, I am reading from a
President Museveni shocked Ugandans by renewing the term of the Electoral Commission chairman Badru Kiggundu and four other commissioners. I