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Uganda: Two presidential hopefuls arrested on election trail

UGANDAN police yesterday arrested an opposition leader and a former prime minister who both intend to seek the presidency.

Three-time presidential candidate Kizza Besigye was arrested outside his home near the capital Kampala as he was leaving to address a rally, his aide Francis Mwijukye said.

Former prime minister Amama Mbabazi was arrested as he headed from Kampala to a town in eastern Uganda where he planned to consult with his supporters.

Police had warned he faced arrest if he proceeded without first getting the support of the ruling National Resistance Movement, of which he is a member. But Mr Mbabazi insisted that as a presidential aspirant he needed no one’s approval to consult across the country.

Assistant Inspector General of Police Andrew Kaweesi said officers took “preventive action” against Mr Mbabazi.

President Yoweri Museveni has been in office since 1986. He was elected to his fourth term in 2011 by a 68 per cent majority.

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