"Tension as 81-year-old Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his four-decade rule in a country where 70 percent of people are under age 35. Kampala, Uganda It's the eve of Uganda's highly contested presidential election, and the country is partially shut down. The national communications authority has suspended public internet access, the sale and registration of new SIM cards, and outbound roaming services."
"On the streets of the capital city, the move has triggered anger and frustration especially among young people who rely heavily on the internet for work, communication, and opportunity. Marvin Masole says he mostly uses WhatsApp to communicate and to do business. The 27-year-old university graduate has tried repeatedly to find a job and failed. Frustrated, he is now looking for opportunities abroad."
"Masole is gathered with friends at a food stall in downtown Kampala. The group share a famous Rolex a chapati rolled with egg a popular street delicacy in Uganda. The oldest person among them is 37 years old. Most are in their 20s. This mirrors the national average more than 70 percent of the country is under the age of 35. But for decades, this youthfulness has not been reflected in the upper echelons of power."
An 81-year-old president is pursuing a seventh term while national communications authorities have suspended public internet access, new SIM registrations, and outbound roaming. The shutdown has provoked anger and frustration, particularly among young people who depend on online platforms for communication, income, and job searches. A 27-year-old university graduate reports repeated job-seeking failures and plans to look abroad. Street gatherings illustrate a predominantly youthful population, with most people in their 20s and more than 70 percent under 35. Long-term rule by a single leader has left a perceived generational and political disconnect ahead of a contested election.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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