Polls open amid crackdown

Kampala: Ugandans yesterday began voting in a presidential election pitting longtime leader Yoweri Museveni against an opposition galvanised by a popular singer despite a campaign marked by brutal crackdowns.

Polls were due to open at 7am (local time), but at six polling stations in the capital visited by Reuters, voting began between 60 to 90 minutes late after ballot papers did not arrive on time. Lines of voters were growing at two other stations where polling had not begun by 9.15am.

The East African country of nearly 46 million people was under an internet blackout after the communications regulator ordered telecoms operators to suspend services from Wednesday.

Reggae artist Bobi Wine (38) is channelling the anger of many young Ugandans who say former guerrilla leader Museveni, now 76, is an outoftouch dictator. — AAP