Uganda elections marred by rigging, arrests

The elections in Uganda which is about to be wrapped up have been marred by alleged rigging in favour of the incumbent President Museveni and the arrest of opposition leader Kizza Besigya.

The opposition leader was arrested while in the midst of his supporters by Uganda police but was later released by the police, his lawyer said.‎

According to Al Jazeera’s Malcolm Webb, reporting from the capital Kampala on Thursday, “The police detained Kizza Besigya, a presidential candidate, as he and his supporters tried to show reporters what he called a vote-rigging operation.

“Our correspondent was also a witness to the incident, in which a number of people jumped from the fence around a house where the alleged fraud was committed”. Webb added.
In the words of Jotham Taremwa, election commission spokesman,Kampala traditionally shows strong support for the opposition.

“There was a bit of a delay at some polling stations because of logistical problems.” Taremwa said.

At one Kampala polling centre, hundreds of frustrated voters shouted and gesticulated at election officials.

“They are denying us our constitutional right,” said Elias Bukenya, a 27-year-old teacher who suspected foul play.

President Museveni is widely expected to win a fifth term, extending his power into a fourth decade, since he seized power in 1986.