AFP Khartoum, Sudan | AFP | Hassan al-Turabi, the Sudanese Islamist leader who died on Saturday, was an outspoken veteran politician who was in and out of jail over a career spanning some four decades. The 84-year-old died of a heart attack, a medical source said. A key figure in …
Read More »Did Ugandans really not vote?
By Agather Atuhaire EC announced 63% turnout but long queues send different message As Ugandans voted in presidential and parliamentary election on Feb.18, one of them, Jackie, posted on her Facebook page that she was overwhelmed by Ugandans determination to vote. She was voting for the first time and said …
Read More »How security forces defeated Besigye
By Flavia Nassaka Looking beyond the massive deployment and violence-wary population One of the tensest moments of the Feb. 18 presidential and parliamentary elections came just hours after the polls closed on Feb. 19. It was early morning and the chairman of the Electoral Commission, Badrukigundu, had earlier announced that …
Read More »Museveni’s toughest election moments
By Haggai Matsiko The story hidden behind the numbers President Yoweri Museveni won the Feb.18 elections but he is still bristling with campaign trail frustration. The President, who won with 61% of the vote, has said publically that international election observers, who announced that he did not win fairly, are …
Read More »NRM to dominate Uganda’s parliament after vote
AFP Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Uganda President Yoweri Museveni’s ruling party is set to dominate parliament once again, according to results being compiled by the election commission after last week’s vote. However, at least 17 ministers lost their seats in the election that saw Museveni win a fifth term …
Read More »Clinging to power via constitutional reforms
Paris, France | AFP | Numerous presidents, especially in Africa and Latin America, have sought to amend their countries’ constitutions in an attempt to hang onto power. Bolivia’s Evo Morales, who conceded on Wednesday he had lost a bid to seek a fourth term, is one of the few leaders …
Read More »Police hold Besigye before march
Independent Reporter and AFP REPORTS JUST IN INDICATE THAT Opposition leader Kizza Besigye has been held by the Uganda Police after he attempted to march into the city from his home in Kasangati, 14km outside Kampala. Besigye had planned to march with his supporters to the Electoral Commission to get …
Read More »KAYIHURA: I fear a camera more than the bullet
By Independent Reporter Uganda’ Police chief has spoken out against what he called unprofessional journalism practiced by some media houses ahead of the elections. IGP Gen.Kale Kayihura said Uganda has had a relatively peaceful election period despite media exaggerations. He mainly hit out stories about a fire at a business …
Read More »Demography vs economy as Uganda heads to the polls
AFP Kampala, Uganda | AFP | Wednesday Labyrinthine and cacophonous, Kampala’s sprawling Owino Market is private enterprise unchained, a place where Ugandans struggle daily to survive and thrive. And after three decades of President Yoweri Museveni’s rule, his election promise of jobs and wealth rings hollow to many here. Francis …
Read More »Ex-President Obasanjo on observing Thursday’s election
FLAVIA NASSAKA Ahead of the February 18 Presidential and parliamentary election, various observer missions are in the country to analyze the legitimacy and quality of electoral processes as per the requirement of Chapter 7 of the United Nations Framework on the Declaration of Principles for International Observation 2005. The Electoral …
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