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Uganda election: Facebook and Whatsapp blocked Uganda election: Facebook and Whatsapp blocked
(about 2 hours later)
Social media has been blocked in Uganda on the day of presidential elections to stop people "telling lies", President Yoweri Museveni has said.Social media has been blocked in Uganda on the day of presidential elections to stop people "telling lies", President Yoweri Museveni has said.
Mr Museveni, 71, is seeking to extend his 30-year rule, in a race widely seen as the tightest in the East African state's history.Mr Museveni, 71, is seeking to extend his 30-year rule, in a race widely seen as the tightest in the East African state's history.
Voting has been cancelled at at least two polling stations in the capital Kampala after clashes with police. His main rival Kizza Besigye was briefly detained.
Seven opposition candidates are running against Mr Museveni. A foreign observer group condemned the blockage of social media and lengthy delays in opening voting booths.
Uganda decides: Live updatesUganda decides: Live updates
Uganda's election explainedUganda's election explained
Interviewed on TV about social media, Mr Museveni said: "Some people misuse those pathways. You know how they misuse them - telling lies.Interviewed on TV about social media, Mr Museveni said: "Some people misuse those pathways. You know how they misuse them - telling lies.
"If you want a right then use it properly.""If you want a right then use it properly."
His main challenger is his former physician, Kizza Besigye who has said he does not think the election will be free and fair. Many people have found a way around the controversial restrictions, including opposition candidate Amama Mbabazi who tweeted advice on how to do it:
Former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi is also seen as a leading contender for the presidency.
Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and mobile money services have been blocked.
Despite this, #UgandaDecides is still trending on Twitter.
Many people have found a way around the controversial restrictions, including Mr Mbabazi who tweeted advice on how to do it:
A VPN - a Virtual Private Network - gets round government censorship by redirecting your internet activity to a computer in a different country.A VPN - a Virtual Private Network - gets round government censorship by redirecting your internet activity to a computer in a different country.
The head of Uganda's media regulator, Godfrey Mutabazi, said the block was introduced after a request from the electoral commission, local media reports. Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp and mobile money services have been blocked.
He added that it was to make sure the services would not be used to bribe voters. Despite this, #UgandaDecides has been trending on Twitter.
Uganda's leading mobile operator MTN, which has 10 million users, confirmed that it had received an order to shut down social media services. Commonwealth election observer mission head Olusegun Obasanjo said: "It is ill advised if anyone has blocked social media".
The election has been marred by delays of up to five hours at some polling stations. Condemning the failure of voting stations to open on time, he said: "Delays of three, four, five and even six hours, especially in Kampala, are absolutely inexcusable and will not inspire trust and confidence in the system and the process".
The electoral commission said difficulties in transporting electoral materials caused the delays and agreed to extend voting for three hours until 16:00 GMT in some polling stations. The electoral commission said difficulties in transporting electoral materials caused the delays.
Tear gas fired
The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in the capital, Kampala, reports that crowds were angry after waiting several hours to vote and police used teargas to disperse them.The BBC's Catherine Byaruhanga in the capital, Kampala, reports that crowds were angry after waiting several hours to vote and police used teargas to disperse them.
She visited two voting stations where voting had been cancelled because people had said they received fake ballots. Voting has been cancelled at at least two polling stations after clashes with police and accusations of fake ballots being distributed.
Mr Besigye, was arrested after he demanded access to a house in Kampala where he believed vote rigging was taking place, said Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, spokesman for his FDC party.
He is among seven opposition candidates hoping to end Mr Museveni's 30-year rule.
A candidate needs to secure more than 50% of the vote to win outright and avoid a run-off with the second-ranked contender.A candidate needs to secure more than 50% of the vote to win outright and avoid a run-off with the second-ranked contender.
Ugandans are also voting in parliamentary and local elections.Ugandans are also voting in parliamentary and local elections.
Major presidential contenders:Major presidential contenders:
Uganda election: Issues, candidates and the pollUganda election: Issues, candidates and the poll
Uganda election: Old guard tries new tacticsUganda election: Old guard tries new tactics
Human rights groups have reported an intensifying government crackdown on opposition leaders, their supporters and the media during the election campaign.
One person was killed on Monday in clashes between Mr Besigye's supporters and the security forces in the capital, Kampala.
Mr Museveni has been in office since winning a five-year guerrilla war in 1986, and he is one of Africa's longest-serving leaders.
His final term was meant to end in 2006, but in 2005 he won a campaign to lift the constitutional term limits.
Mr Besigye has unsuccessfully challenged his former comrade-in-arms in the last three presidential elections.
Mr Mbabazi is another former ally of President Museveni. He served as prime minister in 2011-2014, when he was dismissed after announcing he would launch a rival presidential bid.
During the election campaign the two opposition candidates accused the president of corruption and criticised his economic policies.
Mr Museveni dismissed the allegations as fiction.