Uganda: authorities deploy major security arrangements for elections
Outgoing President Yoweri Museveni is notably facing singer and deputy Bobi Wine during the January 14 elections.
AFP - SUMY SADURNI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
On the eve of the presidential and legislative elections in Uganda, hundreds of soldiers patrol the streets of the capital Kampala and several towns to "maintain order", say the authorities.
The executive wants to avoid further violence, such as that which shook the country in November.
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With our correspondent in Kampala,
Lucie Mouillaud
“
Keeping the peace is a duty and not a service
”.
It was with these words that Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni addressed the people on Tuesday, after deploying armored vehicles and hundreds of troops in Kampala, the capital, and other cities in the country.
The Head of State, candidate for his own succession, justified this strong security system by the need to avoid further violence.
In November, 54 people were killed in clashes with police, sparked by the arrest of his main rival Bobi Wine.
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To read also: Uganda: NGOs are worried about the level of violence of the presidential campaign
Yoweri Museveni blames the opposition leaders who he says incited young protesters to commit violence.
This Thursday, the president says he does not want to take any risk.
He therefore asked the army to secure the capital and the police to monitor the roofs of houses and buildings to face possible attacks by snipers.
Law enforcement operations are carried out by two of the most experienced commanders in the country, two specialists in urban guerrilla warfare.
A choice that gives the impression that the whole country has turned into a conflict zone.
This strong military deployment adds to the already tense climate after Tuesday's suspension
of access to several social networks
, including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, accused of interference in the public debate.
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