Uganda presidential hopefuls fear violence

Some candidates of the February presidential election in Uganda have expressed fear of a possible violence in next month’s poll.

“There are claims that some opposition leaders are secretly planning to take power by force. We are following up on reports that a small group of the radical opposition are planning violent actions during and after the election,” Uganda’s PM, Ruhakana Rugunda said.

The opposition leaders are bent on ending the rule of Yoweri Museveni who has been in power since 1986.

Amongst them are Kizza Besigye who heads the Forum for Democratic Change and former prime minister Amama Mbabazi who heads the Go Forward party.

The opposition has criticised police brutality.

“The police used gas and real bullets to interrupt our meeting. We ask Museveni to stop this act. If he does not stop, the people will be obliged to resist and no one knows how far this can go. We have seen events erupt into violence in some places. It can happen here,” former PM Mr Mbabazi said.

Police affirm close to a million civilians were recently recruited to ensure that public order reigns. Despite this claim by police boss Kale Kayihura, Uganda’s opposition still believe the recruitment is an indirect support to Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement.