Yoweri Museveni - The African Mirror

Nov

21

2020

Uganda’s Bobi Wine released on bail as protest death toll rises to 37

ELIAS BIRYABAREMA UGANDAN pop star and presidential candidate Bobi Wine, whose arrest this week triggered protests that led to at least 37 deaths, was released on bail on Friday after being charged with holding rallies likely to spread the coronavirus. Authorities have deployed the military across the capital Kampala and surrounding areas to help police forces disperse protesters. They have used live bullets, tear gas, water cannon and arrested hundreds. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, was arrested on Wednesday while campaigning in eastern Uganda for allegedly holding mass rallies in violation of restrictions on gatherings imposed to curb…

Nov

20

2020

By The African Mirror

Death toll rises to 28 in Uganda protests after presidential candidate Wine’s arrest

NEWS

ELIAS BIRYABAREMA TWENTY-EIGHT people have died and 577 have been detained in unrest in Uganda triggered by the arrest of presidential candidate and pop star Bobi Wine, police have revealed. Authorities have deployed the military across the capital Kampala and surrounding areas to help police forces disperse protesters. They have used live bullets, tear gas and water cannon in efforts to quell the unrest. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, was arrested on Wednesday while campaigning in eastern Uganda for allegedly holding mass rallies in violation of restrictions on gatherings imposed by the government to curb the spread of…

Nov

17

2020

By The African Mirror

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…

Nov

06

2020

By The African Mirror

Ugandan elections set for January 14, as “Grandfather” challenged by young Wine

NEWS

UGANDANS will vote on January 14 in a presidential election that pits long-ruling incumbent Yoweri Museveni against ten rivals, including a young pop star who is emerging as the strongest challenger. The Electoral Commission announced the election date in a statement issued late on Wednesday. Polling to elect lawmakers to parliament will be conducted at the same time. Robert Kyagulanyi In power since 1986, the 76-year-old Museveni is often referred to as "Jajja", meaning "Grandfather". And the biggest threat to Africa's third longest-ruling president keeping his authoritarian grip on the East African nation is expected to come from pop star…

Nov

03

2020

By The African Mirror

Uganda’s Museveni warns off disruptors as he starts bid for another term

NEWS

ELIAS BIRYABAREMA UGANDA’S veteran president Yoweri Museveni has warned that anyone breaking the peace would regret their actions as he formally started his bid for another term in office. The 76-year-old, who is Africa's third-longest ruling head of state, is due to face Bobi Wine, a pop star turned opposition politician, in a February vote. "I am hearing ... some people want to disturb our peace. Whoever tries will regret (it)," the former guerrilla leader said after the Electoral Commission accepted his nomination papers. "For us we do not joke, we fought to bring peace," he told reporters in comments…

Oct

15

2020

By The African Mirror

Uganda presidential hopeful Bobi Wine says security forces raided his office

NEWS

UGANDAN presidential hopeful Bobi Wine, also a pop star and lawmaker, says security forces have raided his office and taken away documents, amid what the opposition says is a campaign of harassment by the government. In a tweet Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, said the security personnel had also taken away other unnamed items. "The military and police just raided our head office in Kamwokya. They have broken into offices and taken away valuable documents and other items. Some comrades have been injured. The partisanship of security agencies ahead of the election is stinking," he said. Wine aims…

Sep

11

2020

By The African Mirror

Uganda says to re-open airport and resume international flights on October 1

COVID-19

ELIAS BIRYABAREMA UGANDA has announced that it would reopen its sole international airport to commercial flights on October 1, more than five months after its closure as a measure to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the East African nation. The move is the latest in a series of steps by the government of President Yoweri Museveni to gradually lift one of Africa's tightest lockdowns and rejuvenate the economy, badly hurt by the shutdown. "We're preparing to open for resumption of flights on October 1," spokesman for the country's state-run Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), Vianney Lugya, said of…

Sep

10

2020

By The African Mirror

Ugandan move to regulate online activity is tool to curb dissent ahead of polls – rights groups

NEWS

ELIAS BIRYABAREMA RIGHTS groups have asked Uganda to reverse a move that requires some social media users to get a licence and pay fees, saying the move is aimed at censoring content critical of the government ahead of a presidential election. In the election due around February, President Yoweri Museveni, 75, and Africa's third longest-ruling leader is seeking another five-year-term which would extend his period in office to 40 years. He is expected to face competition from pop star and lawmaker Bobi Wine - real name, Robert Kyagulanyi- who has exploited his music to galvanise a large following among young…

Sep

08

2020

By The African Mirror

Why Uganda’s ban on open-air campaigns could tilt the 2021 poll in Museveni’s favour

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

GEOFFREY SSENOGA, Lecturer of Mass Communications, Uganda Christian University UGANDA is going to conduct its first digital and mass media campaigns ahead of its 2021 general elections. This comes as the country contemplates holding a “scientific election” wherein social distancing guidelines will be observed. On 16 June 2020, the Uganda Electoral Commission issued a press release banning public rallies for the 2021 political campaigns as part of the country’s COVID-19 containment measures. Campaigns will now be conducted on radio and television, in newspapers and on the internet. This caused an immediate protest especially among opposition-leaning political groups and civil society…

Aug

18

2020

By The African Mirror

Projects to transform Kampala

AFRICITIES

UGANDAN President Yoweri Museveni has launched two major projects that are set to transform the country’s capital Kampala. Museveni officiated at the launch of the Kasubi Market, in central Kampala and later presided over the start of a major infrastructure project. “ As part of efforts to make Kampala a more organised city, I presided over the commissioning of the new Kasubi Market and the launch of construction works on the Lubigi and Nakamiro drainage channels “Kasubi Market will house over 1,400 traders though currently only 800 are using it because of SOPs on social distancing. With this facility functional,…