OPPOSITION CANDIDATES are arrested, crowds dispersed with tear-gas and bullets, campaign meetings in the capital banned. A leading human-rights lawyer is behind bars. The state kills scores of protesters and attacks journalists. And on January 14th Ugandans will vote for a president. Authoritarian habits are ingrained in the institutions of the Ugandan state. Even so, this election will probably be the most violent since Yoweri Museveni fought his way to power in 1986. His regime is rattled by an opposition candidate, Bobi Wine, a pop star and politician who has become an avatar of youthful discontent. Mr Museveni is one of Africa's longest-serving presidents (see chart). Yet the 76-year-old has no intention of retiring-or of being beaten in a fair race. Uganda's electoral commission has limited crowds at rallies to 200 people because of covid-19. On December 26th it banned any campaign meetings in the capital, Kampala, and in 15 districts for health reasons. This is bad for Mr Wine, as his message, like the virus, spreads fastest in crowded urban centres.
展开▼
