OPPOSITION CALLS FOR PEACEFUL PROTESTS

Four opposition presidential candidates are calling for peaceful protests against the "sham" election held Feb. 18. (To read the full statement, click here). Will Ugandans take up the call? Police and army are deployed thickly across Kampala and nationwide, and will serve as a strong deterrent to anyone considering protesting. If protests do materialize, will authorities allow them to proceed as long as they are peaceful, or will the army and police intervene with a show of force?

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists has issued a statement condemning the shooting of a freelance journalist on election day. In a statement, the CPJ is calling on the government to thoroughly pursue the investigation into the shooting, which reports say was carried out by an army gunman. Today's Daily Monitor newspaper is also reporting that a Channel 44 journalist was shot and wounded during yesterday's local election chaos (see below).