Mkalukungone Mwamba
JF-Expert Member
- Aug 29, 2022
- 2,436
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Wananchi wa Uganda walipiga kura Alhamisi katika uchaguzi wa kitaifa uliojaa mvutano, kufuatia kampeni iliyokuwa mara nyingi na vurugu pamoja na kuzimwa kwa mtandao, huku Rais Yoweri Museveni akitafuta kuongeza muda wa utawala wake kuingia katika muongo wa tano.
Museveni aliwaambia waandishi wa habari baada ya kupiga kura yake magharibi mwa Uganda kuwa anatarajia kushinda asilimia 80 ya kura “kama hakutakuwa na wizi”, akipuuzilia mbali uwezekano wa ushindi wa kushtukiza wa mwimbaji maarufu Bobi Wine.
Uchaguzi huu unaonekana kwa mapana kama kipimo cha nguvu za kisiasa za kiongozi huyo mwenye umri wa miaka 81 na uwezo wake wa kuepuka machafuko kama yale yaliyozikumba nchi jirani za Tanzania na Kenya, huku kukiwa na mijadala inayoongezeka kuhusu nani atamrithi baadaye.
Museveni amefanya kampeni kwa kauli mbiu ya “kulinda mafanikio yaliyopatikana”, akiahidi kudumisha amani na kuiinua Uganda kufikia hadhi ya nchi ya kipato cha kati.
Bobi Wine, mwenye umri wa miaka 43 na anayejulikana kwa jina la utani “Rais wa Geto” kutokana na asili yake ya kawaida, amewahamasisha vijana waliokasirishwa na ukosefu wa fursa za kiuchumi katika nchi ambayo wastani wa umri wa wananchi ni zaidi kidogo ya miaka 16.
Upigaji kura ulifanyika katika mji mkuu Kampala chini ya ulinzi mkali wa polisi. Baadhi ya vituo vya kupigia kura havikufunguliwa kwa wakati kwa sababu mashine za kielektroniki za uthibitishaji wa wapiga kura hazikufanya kazi. Museveni alisema chanzo cha tatizo hilo kinaendelea kuchunguzwa.
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Ugandans voted in a tense national election on Thursday after an often violent campaign and internet shutdown, with President Yoweri Museveni seeking to extend his rule into a fifth decade.
Museveni told reporters after casting his ballot in western Uganda that he expected to win 80% of the vote "if there's no cheating", dismissing the prospect of an upset victory by popular singer Bobi Wine.
The election is widely seen as a test of the 81-year-old leader's political strength and ability to avoid the kind of unrest that has rocked neighbours Tanzania and Kenya as speculation mounts about his eventual succession.
He has campaigned on a slogan of "protecting the gains", vowing to maintain peace and lift Uganda into middle-income status.
Wine, who is 43 and nicknamed the "Ghetto President" for his humble origins, has appealed to young people angry about scarce economic opportunities in a country where the average age is just over 16.
Voting took place in the capital Kampala amid a heavy police presence. Some polling stations did not open on time because biometric voter verification machines were not working. Museveni said the cause of this was being looked into.
Casting his ballot in the Kasangati township, Ronald Tenywa, a 45-year-old university researcher, complained that political leaders "cling on for a long time".
“If we vote for someone who cares, things will be better for Uganda,” he said, without specifying for whom he was voting.
The authorities cut internet access across the country on Tuesday to curb what they called misinformation about the election. Many Ugandans turned to an offline messaging app launched by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.
HUNDREDS ARRESTED, AT LEAST ONE KILLED DURING CAMPAIGN
Security forces have repeatedly opened fire at Wine's campaign events, killing at least one person and arresting hundreds of his supporters.
Museveni's government has said the security forces' actions were a justified response to what it called lawless conduct by opposition supporters.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, said while voting that Ugandans should protest non-violently if the election is rigged.
Museveni aliwaambia waandishi wa habari baada ya kupiga kura yake magharibi mwa Uganda kuwa anatarajia kushinda asilimia 80 ya kura “kama hakutakuwa na wizi”, akipuuzilia mbali uwezekano wa ushindi wa kushtukiza wa mwimbaji maarufu Bobi Wine.
Uchaguzi huu unaonekana kwa mapana kama kipimo cha nguvu za kisiasa za kiongozi huyo mwenye umri wa miaka 81 na uwezo wake wa kuepuka machafuko kama yale yaliyozikumba nchi jirani za Tanzania na Kenya, huku kukiwa na mijadala inayoongezeka kuhusu nani atamrithi baadaye.
Museveni amefanya kampeni kwa kauli mbiu ya “kulinda mafanikio yaliyopatikana”, akiahidi kudumisha amani na kuiinua Uganda kufikia hadhi ya nchi ya kipato cha kati.
Bobi Wine, mwenye umri wa miaka 43 na anayejulikana kwa jina la utani “Rais wa Geto” kutokana na asili yake ya kawaida, amewahamasisha vijana waliokasirishwa na ukosefu wa fursa za kiuchumi katika nchi ambayo wastani wa umri wa wananchi ni zaidi kidogo ya miaka 16.
Upigaji kura ulifanyika katika mji mkuu Kampala chini ya ulinzi mkali wa polisi. Baadhi ya vituo vya kupigia kura havikufunguliwa kwa wakati kwa sababu mashine za kielektroniki za uthibitishaji wa wapiga kura hazikufanya kazi. Museveni alisema chanzo cha tatizo hilo kinaendelea kuchunguzwa.
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Ugandans voted in a tense national election on Thursday after an often violent campaign and internet shutdown, with President Yoweri Museveni seeking to extend his rule into a fifth decade.
Museveni told reporters after casting his ballot in western Uganda that he expected to win 80% of the vote "if there's no cheating", dismissing the prospect of an upset victory by popular singer Bobi Wine.
The election is widely seen as a test of the 81-year-old leader's political strength and ability to avoid the kind of unrest that has rocked neighbours Tanzania and Kenya as speculation mounts about his eventual succession.
He has campaigned on a slogan of "protecting the gains", vowing to maintain peace and lift Uganda into middle-income status.
Wine, who is 43 and nicknamed the "Ghetto President" for his humble origins, has appealed to young people angry about scarce economic opportunities in a country where the average age is just over 16.
Voting took place in the capital Kampala amid a heavy police presence. Some polling stations did not open on time because biometric voter verification machines were not working. Museveni said the cause of this was being looked into.
Casting his ballot in the Kasangati township, Ronald Tenywa, a 45-year-old university researcher, complained that political leaders "cling on for a long time".
“If we vote for someone who cares, things will be better for Uganda,” he said, without specifying for whom he was voting.
The authorities cut internet access across the country on Tuesday to curb what they called misinformation about the election. Many Ugandans turned to an offline messaging app launched by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.
HUNDREDS ARRESTED, AT LEAST ONE KILLED DURING CAMPAIGN
Security forces have repeatedly opened fire at Wine's campaign events, killing at least one person and arresting hundreds of his supporters.
Museveni's government has said the security forces' actions were a justified response to what it called lawless conduct by opposition supporters.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, said while voting that Ugandans should protest non-violently if the election is rigged.
