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| Clashes after Ugandan presidential candidate detained days before election Clashes after Ugandan presidential candidate detained days before election | |
| (2 months later) | |
| The arrest of a top presidential candidate has caused outrage in Uganda just days before the country heads to the polls to elect a new president. | The arrest of a top presidential candidate has caused outrage in Uganda just days before the country heads to the polls to elect a new president. |
| Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds of opposition supporters who gathered to demand the release of Kizza Besigye who was briefly detained on Monday. | Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds of opposition supporters who gathered to demand the release of Kizza Besigye who was briefly detained on Monday. |
| “The arrest followed chaotic scenes as Besigye campaigned in parts of Kampala” ahead of Thursday’s election, the state-run New Vision newspaper reported. | “The arrest followed chaotic scenes as Besigye campaigned in parts of Kampala” ahead of Thursday’s election, the state-run New Vision newspaper reported. |
| The three-time presidential candidate who heads the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has been repeatedly arrested in past campaigns, and has been described as current president Yoweri Museveni’s “perennial nemesis”. | The three-time presidential candidate who heads the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party has been repeatedly arrested in past campaigns, and has been described as current president Yoweri Museveni’s “perennial nemesis”. |
| This year seven opposition candidates are vying to contest Museveni’s attempts to win a fifth term in office, but Besigye’s FDC party officials accused the government of blocking their efforts to address supporters in the city centre. | This year seven opposition candidates are vying to contest Museveni’s attempts to win a fifth term in office, but Besigye’s FDC party officials accused the government of blocking their efforts to address supporters in the city centre. |
| “Museveni has declared all public places in Kampala central a ‘no-go area’ for [the] opposition,” FDC spokesman Semujju Nganda told the Daily Monitor newspaper, adding they had hoped to hold a rally in a central football stadium. | “Museveni has declared all public places in Kampala central a ‘no-go area’ for [the] opposition,” FDC spokesman Semujju Nganda told the Daily Monitor newspaper, adding they had hoped to hold a rally in a central football stadium. |
| “Police blocked us. This has left us with no choice but to address voters on the streets and roads,” he added. | “Police blocked us. This has left us with no choice but to address voters on the streets and roads,” he added. |
| Television footage showed Besigye being put into the front seat of a police car, surrounded by riot police and journalists. | Television footage showed Besigye being put into the front seat of a police car, surrounded by riot police and journalists. |
| Within a few hours Besigye had been released and was reported to be on his way to the next campaign rally, but the incident is adding fuel to fears that voting may be marred by violence. | Within a few hours Besigye had been released and was reported to be on his way to the next campaign rally, but the incident is adding fuel to fears that voting may be marred by violence. |
| Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo earlier this month claimed opposition parties were raising militia to disrupt the election, claims they have denied. | Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo earlier this month claimed opposition parties were raising militia to disrupt the election, claims they have denied. |
| Museveni faces his stiffest challenge yet from Besigye, his former doctor, and Amama Mbabazi, a former prime minister and ruling party stalwart now running as an independent candidate. | Museveni faces his stiffest challenge yet from Besigye, his former doctor, and Amama Mbabazi, a former prime minister and ruling party stalwart now running as an independent candidate. |
| The US State Department on Monday stressed the need for a “peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process” and called on all sides to “refrain from provocative actions or rhetoric that raise tensions.” | The US State Department on Monday stressed the need for a “peaceful, transparent and credible electoral process” and called on all sides to “refrain from provocative actions or rhetoric that raise tensions.” |
| “Violence or threats of violence from any group or individual are unacceptable, and those who participate in such acts - regardless of which candidate they support - must be held accountable,” the US statement added. | “Violence or threats of violence from any group or individual are unacceptable, and those who participate in such acts - regardless of which candidate they support - must be held accountable,” the US statement added. |
| “We strongly urge the government and electoral authorities to ensure a level playing field and transparent process, including through fair application of the law, so that all candidates have an equal opportunity to express their views and voters have the opportunity to hear them.” | “We strongly urge the government and electoral authorities to ensure a level playing field and transparent process, including through fair application of the law, so that all candidates have an equal opportunity to express their views and voters have the opportunity to hear them.” |