Ugandan police arrest hopefuls for 2016 presidential vote

Uganda Police operations commander Andrew Felix Kawesi was shown on local television station NSB confirming the arrest to journalists in Njeru, a town 75km outside the capital Kampala.

Ex- Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi was arrested as he traveled from Kampala to a town in eastern Uganda where he planned to consult with his supporters.

Mbabazi announced last month that he would seek the presidency as a member of the ruling party.

And Besigye’s party, the Forum for Democratic Change, tweeted that he was arrested by Ugandan police “as he left his home ahead of his (campaign) launch in Kasangati”. “There’s no going to Mbale”.

Police also arrested another presidential hopeful, opposition leader Kizza Besigye, early on Thursday morning as he left his house, his aide said.

After he lost elections in 2011, Besigye led repeated anti-government protests, at which he was regularly arrested and held for a few hours before being released.

Mr Museveni sacked Mr Mbabazi as prime minister last year, ending a close working relationship of more than 20 years. In June police had banned Mbabazi from holding meetings to promote his challenge against Museveni, saying their party had not yet nominated a candidate.

“The Mbabazi campaign will continue whether the police want to stop it or not”, Mbabazi’s spokeswoman Josephine Mayanja-Nkangi told Reuters.

Three-time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye, who is frequently detained over his political activities, was arrested outside his home near Kampala, the Ugandan capital, as he headed out to address a rally, his aide Francis Mwijukye said.

Some Western donors have criticized Museveni for holding on to power for so long, but have also praised the rebel-turned-statesman for stabilising Uganda after taking power in 1986 and sending Ugandan troops to fight Islamist militants in Somalia.