In this article, Jardar Alai explains the recent events surrounding the election in Uganda.
Photo Credit: The Guardian
Uganda is an African nation located in east Africa. Uganda is known as a democratic republic but that is far from the truth. Uganda has been under Museveni regime over 30 years and 80% of the population is younger than 30, so most of them have only lived under Museveni's rule.
Museveni's regime allows limited freedom of speech and his regime is cracking down on peaceful demonstrations. On 19 November 2019, the security forces of Uganda cracked down a protest where people were protesting against the arrest of a popular politician known as Bobby Wine. 54 people were killed in the protest and many persecuted and arrested. The security forces get orders from President Museveni. Young Ugandans are tired of being under Museveni's rule, so they are showing their support for Bobby Wine.
Bobby Wine is a musician who grew up in the hood and he got a lot of popularity for his political music. He became an opposition party leader and he decided to run for office in the election of 2021. He promised to end brutality of security forces, more freedom of speech and to end corruption. During his campaign, the security forces attacked Wine's security guards and Wine's supporters followed by an internet blackout to stop the spreading of Bobby Wine's messages. Witnesses of attacks from the security forces would film these incidents in their phones and they would share it on social media.
14 of January Ugandans went to vote and the result ended up with a win to Museveni. Bobby Wine is on house arrest with his wife, and he is monitored every second. Ugandans are calling the result a fraud because Bobby Wine had more support from the public and videos of security forces taking away ballots has been spread on Ugandan social media.
Museveni rule has put more money on security and facial reconsiders. They claim it for arresting criminals but actually it is to control the opposition to Museveni's dictatorship.
Sadly, young Ugandans have to suffer in a dictatorship where they can get arrested and killed any second because they raised their voices. Bobby Wine is still on house arrest and the blood of Ugandans continues.
Sources: 1. Vice. News 16.01.2021 Young Ugandans Want Change From the Only President They've Ever Known
2. vice news 16.01.2021 Ugandans Are Bracing Themselves for 5 More Years of Authoritarian Rule