Uganda on Monday began its two-day nomination process for Presidential candidates head of the February elections.
President Yoweri Museveni who has ruled the country for over three decades was the first candidate to be nominated.
During his nomination, Museveni warned his competitors against destabilizing the country or be dealt with accordingly.
Museveni’s competitors including musician turned politician Bobi Wine, said their homes and offices are under government surveillance.
After his nomination, President Museveni accused his opponents of receiving support from abroad and suggested that his government will use force to keep order in the country if he deems it necessary
“I hear there are people who want to disorganize and act foolishly. I want to assure you that no one will bring disorganization here, and whoever does so will regret it,” the President warned.
“NRM fought to bring peace in this country… I am not holding a gun now, but no one has stronger military power than us, but we don’t scare people,” he added.
Museveni is expected to face nine competitors in the upcoming elections.
Some of his competitors include Lieutenant General Henry Tumukunde and Robert Kyagulanyi who complained of “unnecessary surveillance” from security officers.
“You’ve all noticed, they’ve blocked roads coming to our offices and leaving. They’ve also deployed unnecessarily everywhere. And I want to believe that is to intimidate Ugandans,” wine said.
On Tuesday Bobi Wine was arrested after handing in his nomination papers to the election body, his party’s spokesman said.
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Wine was dragged from his car by armed security officers and forced into a police van amid violent scuffles between police and his supporters.
“They (police) used a hammer and broke the windows of his vehicle and forcefully dragged him out … they bundled him into their own vehicle and took off,” Joel Senyonyi, spokesman for the NUP party, said, adding he did not know why Wine was arrested.
Since last week, police have warned opposition parties not to hold any kind of procession on the way to the nomination center.
