Ugandan Pres Museveni contested recent elections with "massive supplementary military budgets & excessive use of force." Now a "spate of kidnappings of opposition supporters by armed government groups is spreading fear...31 people remain unaccounted for."
Ugandan police say they'll respect the court order to release opposition presidential candidate @Bobiwine2 from house arrest but ominously say they'll "maintain our surveillance " of him. All he has done is challenge Pres Museveni's declared electoral win.
Ugandan Pres Museveni "has suppressed opposing voices for years, often by force." His violent intimidation of opposition candidate @Bobiwine2 was the latest example. This time may have been a step too far as the US and EU are reconsidering their support.
Ugandan Pres Museveni seems to see elections as a tool to reaffirm his power (and provide a thin veil of legitimacy) rather than a chance for voters to make a choice. His electoral opponent @Bobiwine2 didn't accept those rules and is under house arrest.
Ugandan Pres Museveni's government "has grown steadily more corrupt & autocratic. The election he staged...to award himself a sixth consecutive term in office was a mockery of democracy. It showed that he has become...’the very thing he fought against.’”
Did Ugandan Pres Museveni really win? "Local and foreign election observers...were prevented from monitoring" the election. Accreditation for 75% of US observers was denied. 26 members of civil society groups who were observing the election were arrested.
Behind Ugandan Pres. Museveni's declared victory: "episodes of police and military violence, killings and arrests of presidential candidates....On the eve of the election, the internet was shut down — a clear sign that the vote would not be free and fair."
How did Ugandan Pres Museveni campaign against his main opponent @Bobiwine2 ? Wine "was beaten and bruised, his entire campaign team was detained and his home was surrounded & breached by the military. " Wine says Museveni “fabricated” his declared victory.
How has Ugandan Pres Museveni stayed in power for 35 years? "Through politicized prosecution of opposition figures, while undermining independent media &and ivil society." Elections "have been riddled with allegations of fraud and irregularities."
Why does Ugandan Pres Museveni think he can get away with trying to steal tomorrow's election? Because he has "positioned himself as a military ally and development darling of many Western governments that look the other way" on human rights: @Bobiwine2 .
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1. Bobi Wine was a leading Ugandan Afropop singer. 2. He refused to sing for Pres Museveni. 3. He won a seat in parliament. 4. Police shot & killed his driver thinking it was him. 5. They beat him so bad he can't walk. His wife called him "unrecognizable."
The best Ugandan Pres Museveni's spokespeople can come up with to defend the government shutting down campaign events for his main electoral challenger @Bobiwine2 and arresting his lawyer @nickopiyois that criticism is somehow "neocolonial." #WeakDefense
Deeply disturbing: As elections approach next month, Ugandan authorities detain leading human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo@nickopiyo . He pulled no punches in challenging Pres Museveni's oppressive government and regularly described abuses to the media.
As Ugandan Pres Museveni seeks to extend his 34-year rule in elections next month, his gov't is: 1. Repeatedly arresting his principle opponent @Bobiwine2 . 2. Banning most campaigning. 3. Now deporting foreign journalists seeking to cover the repression.
Urgent: Ugandan police just raided hotel where rapper-politician Bobi Wine was staying ahead of concert tonight in Jinja. He escaped but is now hiding, fearful for his life as police search for him. Pressure needed to stop this effort to silence leading critic of Pres Museveni.
No, Ugandan Pres Museveni, there's no such thing as "legally beating" someone in detention. If you were doing your legal duty, you would prosecute, not laud, those who brutally pummeled singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine.
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