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Opposition Candidate Arrested Days Before Uganda’s Presidential Vote Opposition Candidate Arrested Days Before Uganda’s Presidential Vote
(35 minutes later)
KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s leading opposition figure was arrested on Monday, three days before the East African country’s presidential elections.KAMPALA, Uganda — Uganda’s leading opposition figure was arrested on Monday, three days before the East African country’s presidential elections.
The opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, who was a onetime confidant of President Yoweri Museveni but is now challenging him for the presidency, was arrested around noon as he was holding a rally in this capital city. Mr. Besigye was traveling along Jinja Road, Kampala’s main street, when his convoy was blocked by police vehicles, witnesses said. No charges have been announced. The opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, who was a onetime personal physician to President Yoweri Museveni but is now challenging him for the presidency, was arrested around noon as he was holding a rally in this capital city. Mr. Besigye was traveling along Jinja Road, Kampala’s main street, when his convoy was blocked by police vehicles, witnesses said. No charges have been announced.
Conflicts over rally schedules and routes between opposition parties and the police have often led to arrests in Uganda. By early afternoon, supporters of the opposition party had surrounded the local police station where Mr. Besigye was detained, chanting his name. Conflicts over rally schedules and routes between opposition parties and the police have often led to arrests in Uganda. By early afternoon, supporters of the opposition party had surrounded the local police station where Mr. Besigye was detained, chanting his name. Anti-riot police patrolled streets as residents watched from balconies.
Mr. Besigye is running against Mr. Museveni in what will be the fifth presidential vote since Mr. Museveni took power in 1986, after a coup that overthrew his predecessor, Milton Obote.Mr. Besigye is running against Mr. Museveni in what will be the fifth presidential vote since Mr. Museveni took power in 1986, after a coup that overthrew his predecessor, Milton Obote.
During that time the nation has become a close United States ally, but observers and human-rights groups have also asserted that the government has cracked down on freedom of expression and political rights, particularly in the prelude to the election. A local radio station was shut down last month after airing an interview with Amama Mbabazi, a former prime minister and senior spy, who is also running for president. During that time the nation has become a close United States ally, but observers and human-rights groups have also asserted that the government has cracked down on freedom of expression and political rights, particularly in the prelude to the election. A local radio station was shut down last month after airing an interview with Amama Mbabazi, a former prime minister and senior spy, who is also running for president, and Uganda’s police have called for recruiting and training volunteers to help safeguard Election Day.
Mr. Besigye, 59, staged street demonstrations against the government in 2011 after losing Uganda’s last presidential elections to Mr. Museveni. He was shot by the military police and detained twice. In October, he was temporarily placed under house arrest to prevent him from holding opposition rallies. Mr. Besigye, 59, who challenged Mr. Museveni in elections in 2001, 2006 and 2011, staged street demonstrations after losing the 2011 election. He was shot by the military police and detained several times. In October, he was temporarily placed under house arrest to prevent him from holding opposition rallies.
Uganda’s police have called for the recruitment of civilian security guards for the election. If he is re-elected, Mr. Museveni, 71, would be poised to step down after his next term, as Ugandan law bars anyone over 75 from running for president.Uganda’s police have called for the recruitment of civilian security guards for the election. If he is re-elected, Mr. Museveni, 71, would be poised to step down after his next term, as Ugandan law bars anyone over 75 from running for president.