Uganda Decides: Museveni or Bobi Wine?

On Tuesday, January 12 at 19:30GMT:
Ugandans head to the polls on January 14 to vote in a presidential election after a campaign that has been marred by violence.

Though there are at least 10 candidates, the frontrunners are longtime incumbent Yoweri Museveni, youthful pretender Robert Kyagulanyi and Forum for Democratic Change leader Patrick Amuriat.

Both Kyagulanyi (a pop star who is more popularly known by his stage name Bobi Wine) and Amuriat have been subjected to violence from security forces while on the campaign trail. Amuriat’s car was allegedly shot at by a police officer on January 7 and he was arrested while campaigning on January 10.

Wine, thought to be Museveni’s strongest challenger, has been arrested and wounded several times during the campaign and one of his bodyguards was killed after being run over by a military vehicle in December.

Wine briefly suspended his campaign after members of his team were wounded following clashes between his supporters and security forces. Wine has filed a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court asking that Museveni and other high-ranking government officials be investigated for human rights violations.

On this episode of The Stream we are joined by Wine spokesman Joel Ssenyonyi and government spokesman Ofwono Opondo to discuss Uganda’s future and who should lead the country into it.

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:
Joel Ssenyonyi, @JoelSsenyonyi
Spokesperson, National Unity Platform
peoplepower

Ofwono Opondo, @OfwonoOpondo
Executive Director, Uganda Media Centre
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Lydia Namubiru, @namlyd
Africa Editor, openDemocracy
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