Uganda: 1 killed in violence ahead of presidential polls

Similar sentiments have been made by Mbabazi who said the country needs free and fair elections.

The leader of the Forum for Democratic Change says the authorities’ intervention is a sign the vote will not be transparent, fair or free. Police fired tear gas to disperse crowds of opposition supporters who gathered to demand the release of Mr Besigye who was briefly detained.

Many were riding motorbikes, waving tree branches and blowing whistles and horns, and wearing shirts with Besigye’s face emblazoned on the front. “The struggle will simply continue”.

“To those who think that the enthusiasm of the people of Uganda can change or be dampened by unleashing the type of violence that we saw, I’d like to say that it’s too late, your time is really up”. “The opposition leaders are liars”. Campaigning is banned on Wednesday.

Mbabazi, who is running as an independent candidate, has also called on police to practice restrain in handling of party supporters and show impartiality in the execution of their mandate.

Besigye, in his briefing, said: “On election day, you should go to the polling stations in the morning, do not wait until the afternoon, vote then stay there to protect your votes”.

Later, Besigye married Museveni’s former girlfriend, but the two men eventually became political foes when Besigye broke ranks with the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to make a bid for the presidency in 2001. We know this is what he wants. They fought together in the bush war to overthrow Milton Obote, during which Besigye served as Museveni’s trusted personal physician. Analysts say that veteran leader is expected to win the February 18 poll but that it represents his toughest political challenge yet.

Police said 19 people were wounded, including a policewoman, and 22 people arrested.

“While Uganda’s drift towards authoritarianism, coupled with the high-profile introduction of legislation to criminalise homosexuality and regulate the operational environment for NGOs may not win approval from Western actors, Museveni has embedded himself to the extent that the internationals accept his military contributions with one hand whilst wagging a censorious finger with the other”, Taylor said. However, apart from Monday’s violence, campaigning has been relatively peaceful.

“Besigye was going to the business district which was not part of the program and the [pre-determined] route that he was supposed to take, and the police said no you can not come in the central business district because this will disturb the active business environment”.

“The police officers who are in charge may sometime allow some candidates conclude their meetings, but all in all respect for time and the regulation about the election is indeed what has been followed by the candidates”, Rugunda said.