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               Uganda Opposition Leader: Gov't Stifling Campaign

   by Associated Press

   A Ugandan opposition candidate for the presidency said Monday that
   President Yoweri Museveni's government is trying stifle his campaign
   after police raided his offices and arrested his staff.

   Former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi, the main challenger of
   long-serving President Yoweri Museveni in the upcoming elections on
   February 18, said Monday that 20 of his staff have been arrested.

   Police spokesman Fred Enanga said the arrests are related to a violent
   clash between Mbabazi and Museveni supporters two weeks ago. Mbabazi
   said his supporters were merely defending themselves.

   Museveni, who has been in power for almost 30 years and is seeking
   re-election, warned Sunday that police would arrest those who allegedly
   beat his supporters.

   The Ugandan government is reducing democratic space ahead of the polls
   and has arbitrarily arrested opposition candidates and dispersed their
   campaign rallies.

   "Excessive force" used by police to disrupt opposition gatherings is
   hindering the ability of Ugandans to engage with all parties ahead of
   the elections, said the Amnesty report, citing the arrests of
   opposition candidates, Mbabazi and Kizza Besigye and their supporters
   between July and October.

   On July 9, Mbabazi was arrested in the eastern town of Jinja and
   Besigye was detained at his home as they prepared to meet supporters
   across Uganda. Police later said the two opposition leaders were going
   to address illegal rallies. The politicians have since been released.

   Both Besigye and Mbabazi were once close to Museveni. Besigye was
   Museveni's personal physician when they were in the rebel movement that
   won power in 1986. When he broke ranks with Museveni in 2000, Besigye
   accused the president of steering away from the democratic values for
   which they waged a bush war against dictatorial rule. He now describes
   Museveni as a dictator.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/uganda-opposition-says-museveni-gover
   nment-stifling-campaign/3112140.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/uganda-opposition-says-museveni-government-stifling-campaign/3112140.html