"Millions of people in Uganda voted in presidential elections today. Eighty-one-year-old President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 40-year grip on power, and there is little doubt that he will be declared the winner again. His main challenger, again, is 43-year-old pop singer turned politician, Bobi Wine. It's a rematch of the last election. Opposition groups claim the integrity of polls in the East African country have been undermined. This week has seen a nationwide internet blackout and an increased military presence."
"Well, it's been fraught. The government suspended internet and communication services. Some people have been able to bypass the internet blackout through VPNs and other tools. But overall, the effect has been essentially a blackout and minimal visibility about what's taking place, which has caused a lot of anger from many in the country who say that really this is by design."
Eighty-one-year-old President Yoweri Museveni seeks a seventh term, extending a four-decade hold on power. His main rival is 43-year-old former pop star Bobi Wine, who has broad youth support and has faced arrests, beatings, and a prior shooting. The government imposed a nationwide internet and communications blackout, though some users accessed services via VPNs and other tools. Security forces have been visibly deployed across the country, and several opposition party members were reported arrested. Widespread anger and allegations of intentional suppression have accompanied limited visibility into voting and counting processes, raising concerns about election integrity.
Read at www.npr.org
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