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In Uganda ballot, long-serving leader seeks more years in tense region Top opposition candidate arrested as Ugandans go to polls
(about 2 hours later)
JINJA, Uganda — When voters went to the polls Thursday in this influential East African nation, they faced a familiar choice at the top of the ballot: one of the world’s longest-serving leaders. JINJA, Uganda — Police arrested the main opposition presidential candidate Thursday, his spokesman said, just as results started to trickle in from an election that focused on whether Uganda’s 30-year ruler would stay in power.
After 30 years in office, Yoweri Museveni, 71, has managed to shed his former rebel image and become a key American ally even as his party faces accusations of jailing members of the political opposition. The reported detention of opposition leader Kizza Besigye came after an election day married by irregularities, including ballots delivered hours late and a shutdown of social media. Police did not immediately respond to calls seeking confirmation of the arrest.
According to some polls, Museveni's opponents have never been more popular, but few in Uganda expect a fair election. The president, Yoweri Museveni, 71, is one of the world’s longest-ruling leaders, a former rebel who has managed to become a key U.S. ally in the region, even as security forces under his control have jailed members of the political opposition.
The main challenger, Kizza Besigye, was once Museveni’s personal physician and a member of one of the president’s early cabinets. And its fourth attempt to unseat Museveni. According to some polls, opposition candidates have never been more popular, but few in Uganda expected a fair election.
In the previous three races, Besigye never polled higher than 38 percent, though he has disputed the returns. At a press conference earlier this week, he said he expected the government to obstruct the vote once again. Besigye was once Museveni’s personal physician and served in one of the president’s early cabinets. He is running against Museveni for the fourth time.
In the previous three races, Besigye never polled higher than 38 percent, though he has disputed the returns. At a news conference this week, he said he expected the government to obstruct the vote once again.
[Uganda latest in East Africa to seek clampdown on civil groups][Uganda latest in East Africa to seek clampdown on civil groups]
He called the election a “struggle for democracy.”He called the election a “struggle for democracy.”
While a large number of African leaders appear determined to extend their rule by rigging elections or silencing opponents — like in Sudan, Zimbabwe or the Republic of Congo — few of them receive as much assistance from the United States. While many African leaders appear determined to extend their rule by rigging elections or silencing opponents — as in Sudan, Zimbabwe or the Republic of Congo — few get as much assistance from the United States.
Uganda receives $750 million in aid from the United States, including significant investments in military training and support. The country has played a key role in regional, U.S.-supported peacekeeping missions, at Museveni's behest. Uganda receives $750 million in aid from the U.S., including significant investments in military training and support. The country has also played a key role in regional, U.S.-supported peacekeeping missions, at Museveni's behest.
He has sent thousands of troops to the ongoing African Union mission against al Shabab rebels in Somalia, an Islamist militant group linked to al Qaeda. He has sent thousands of troops to the ongoing African Union mission in Somalia that is confronting al-Shabab, an Islamist militant group linked to al-Qaeda.
Opinion polls ahead of the election showed him with a comfortable lead, though opposition figures have questioned their reliability. For its part, the country's electoral commission has promised a free and fair election. Opinion polls ahead of the election showed him with a comfortable lead, though opposition figures have questioned the polls’ reliability. For its part, the country's electoral commission has promised a free and fair election.
Voting stations opened late — in some cases by many hours — and social media sites appeared to be blocked on some networks. Voters are also set to choose parliamentarians. The legislature is now controlled by Museveni's National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Voting stations opened late — in some cases many hours late — and social media sites appeared to be blocked on some networks. Voters are also set to choose parliamentarians. The legislature is now controlled by Museveni's National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
[Freed from jail, opposition figure vows to fight on][Freed from jail, opposition figure vows to fight on]
In addition to Besigye, the president also faces a challenge from former prime minister Amama Mbabazi. The long-time NRM stalwart split with the party in 2014, before launching an independent bid for the presidency. The situation in Uganda was tense ahead of the vote, and in some areas of the capital, anger over delays spilled into the streets. In one Kampala neighborhood, voters who said they had had waited seven hours for the arrival of ballots held a demonstration, marching with an opposition banner toward a polling station. Security forces fired tear gas to disperse the protesters. At least two polling stations in the area were shut down.
The situation in Uganda was tense ahead of the vote. In Jinja, a small town near the Nile River’s source on Lake Victoria, voters turned out early. An election-monitoring group had warned that western Jinja was one of the areas most likely to see violence around the voting.
Besigye was briefly arrested in the capital, Kampala, Monday after his convoy attempted to pass through the city center. Police officials said the candidate was blocked because his route posed a security risk and had not been negotiated ahead of time. At least one person was killed in the running protests that followed, and security forces remained deployed across the city. But there was frustration Thursday morning as some stations remained closed more than four hours after the official 7 a.m. start of polling. Election workers said they were still waiting for materials to arrive from regional Electoral Commission officials.
Adding to the unease, Twitter and Facebook appeared to be blocked on some internet providers. The networks have been flooded with rumors about attempts to rig the vote, including conspiracy theories that ballot-station pens would be filled with ink that would disappear before votes could be counted. Ibrahim Ayakiza was the first in line at the Mpumudde High School polling station on the outskirts of town. He said the two-hour wait for materials to arrive raised concerns about political maneuvering.
“I think the delay is so some of us quit and go away as a result,” he said.
Besigye had also been detained briefly in the capital, Kampala, on Monday after his convoy attempted to pass through the city center. Police officials said the candidate was arrested because his route posed a security risk and had not been negotiated ahead of time. At least one person was killed in the running protests that followed, and security forces remained deployed across the city.
Adding to the unease in the country, Twitter and Facebook appeared to be blocked on some Internet providers. The networks have been flooded with rumors about attempts to rig the vote, including conspiracy theories that ballot-station pens would be filled with ink that would disappear before votes could be counted.
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“A lot of negativity, lies, are being beamed down to create unnecessary tension,” said the police inspector general, Kale Kayihura , in reference to social media.“A lot of negativity, lies, are being beamed down to create unnecessary tension,” said the police inspector general, Kale Kayihura , in reference to social media.
One of those providers, the telecommunications giant MTN, called the disruption a “temporary interference” on Twitter.One of those providers, the telecommunications giant MTN, called the disruption a “temporary interference” on Twitter.
The tension did not stop people from arriving early to polling stations in Jinja, a small town clustered around the Nile River’s source on Lake Victoria. An election monitoring group had warned that western Jinja was one of the areas most likely to see violence around the voting. The national Electoral Commission pledged that all voters would have the opportunity to cast a ballot. Polling stations were scheduled to close by 4 p.m., but authorities extended voting in the capital and nearby areas for three hours. The commission will have 48 hours to count the votes and announce a winner.
Instead, there was just frustration this morning as some stations remained closed more than two hours after the official 7 a.m. start. Polling agents said they were still waiting for materials to arrive from regional Electoral Commission officials. Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who is heading the Commonwealth Observer Group, released a statement saying, “A delay of an hour or two is excusable. 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.”
Ibrahim Ayakiza was the first person in line at the Mpumudde High School polling station on the outskirts of town. He said the two-hour wait for materials to arrive raised concerns about the political maneuvering. In addition to Besigye, the president also faces a challenge from former prime minister Amama Mbabazi, who split with the ruling party in 2014.
“I think the delay is so some of us quit and go away as a result,” he said. Read more
The national Electoral Commission pledged that all voters would have the opportunity to cast a ballot. Polling stations are scheduled to close by 4 p.m., at which point the commission will have 48 hours to count the votes and announce a winner.