Uganda election - The African Mirror

Jan

14

2021

Internet blackout in Uganda

NITA BHALLA UGANDA’S ban on social media days before presidential elections shows a rattled president flexing power over the Internet at the expense of free speech and citizen rights, digital campaigners have said. Tuesday's ban by President Yoweri Museveni - who said he only acted because Facebook had removed accounts that backed his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party - came two days before elections that opponents hope will end his 35 years in power. Campaigners said the mass switch-off - from Skype to Snapchat - robbed people of a voice in a blatant bid to cement the East African leader's…

Uganda halts vote campaigning in some areas, opposition cries foul

NEWS

UGANDA has suspended all campaigning for January's presidential poll in the capital and 10 populous districts on Saturday, citing coronavirus risks, but critics said the real reason was the opposition's popularity in these areas. The East African country is scheduled to hold a presidential election on January 14. "The Independent Electoral Commission has suspended campaign meetings in districts and cities categorised by the Ministry of Health as having a high spread of Coronavirus. From December 26, 2020, no campaign meetings will be held in Mbarara, Kabarole, Luwero, Kasese, Masaka, Wakiso, Jinja, Kalungu, Kazo, Kampala City and Tororo," said commission spokesman…

EU says won’t monitor Uganda election, limiting poll’s international scrutiny

NEWS

ELIAS BIRYABAREMA THE European Union will not deploy an observer mission for Uganda's presidential election in January, an official has said, after complaints that advice from previous observers to make the polls fair went unheeded. In the Jan. 14 vote, President Yoweri Museveni, 76, will face off against youthful pop star and lawmaker Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known by his music moniker Bobi Wine and who is seen as the incumbent president's closest competitor. In the same election, voters will also pick their lawmakers. "An EOM (election observer mission) will not be present in Uganda in 2021," Attilio Pacifici, EU ambassador…