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Uganda Opposition Decries Intimidation, Harassment Ahead of Elections

   Peter Clottey 18 November 2010
   Uganda  President  Yoweri  Museveni,  left,  being  interviewed  by  a
   journalist,  after he was nominated to run for presidential elections;
   Forum  for Democratic Changeās Dr. Kizza Besigye after being nominated
   for presidential elections in the capital city Kampa

Photo: AP

   Uganda  President  Yoweri  Museveni,  left,  being  interviewed  by  a
   journalist,  after he was nominated to run for presidential elections;
   Forum  for Democratic Changeās Dr. Kizza Besigye after being nominated
   for  presidential  elections  in  the capital city Kampala, Uganda, 25
   Oct. 2010

   A  leading  member  of Ugandaās opposition Forum for Democratic Change
   (FDC)  said  his party and other opposition groups are being prevented
   from  using  the  state broadcaster as well as other private radio and
   television  stations  for their campaigns ahead of the scheduled 18^th
   February 2011 general elections.

   Jerome  Ndiho  said  supporters  of  the  ruling  National  Resistance
   Movement  (NRM)  party  have  also  been  harassing  and  intimidating
   opposition partisans in the run up to the election.

   āMost  people  in  the  opposition  are  not  given chance to campaign
   directly.  There (is) some intimidation here and there so they find it
   hard  to  run  their  campaigns whenever they want. We have some RDCās
   those  are  Residential  District  Commissionersā¦  who  work with the
   government  intelligence section so they donāt give us time to operate
   the way we want,ā said Ndiho.

   āOnce you are in the oppositionā¦ you are not allowed to use the place
   (media  outlets).  If  you  happen to use it, they will edit (out) all
   your  ideas. If you are to use a radio, they will give you some little
   time.  Sometimes  you are not allowed to use the radio because most of
   the   radio   (stations)   are   owned   by   those   people  who  are
   pro-government.ā

   Supporters  of  the  ruling  NRM  party have rejected the accusations,
   saying they are baseless and without merit.

   They  contend  that  several  opposition parties have been campaigning
   freely  and  have  not been prevented from using the various radio and
   television networks across the country for their campaigns.

   But,  opposition  member  Ndiho  said despite the difficulties his FDC
   party  will  not  be subdued by the intimidations and threats from the
   government  vowing to defeat President Yoweri Museveniās government in
   next yearās vote.

   āNot  all the opposition (parties) are allowed freely (to campaign). I
   tell you, about 300 miles outside Kampala there is intimidation and if
   you  want  to  talk  the RDC will not allow you to. When you go to the
   people  in the villages, they will tell them donāt allow campaigns for
   this  fellow.  If  you  are  there,  they will arrest you or (threaten
   to)ā¦kill you and the like.ā

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