Uganda Elections 2021: Yoweri Museveni Faces Bobi Wine In Presidential Contest

A 38-year-old pop star is challenging one of Africa's longest-serving leaders in Uganda's hotly contested election.

Robert Kyagulanyi, known by his stage name Bobi Wine, says he represents the country's younger generation, while Yoweri Museveni, 76, says he is standing for stability.

The campaign has been marred by serious violence, which has seen dozens of people killed.
The government has ordered a block on all social media.

President Museveni says this was because Facebook had banned several accounts which backed his ruling party.
Ugandan police say they will deploy officers on rooftops of the capital Kampala on election day, while armoured vehicles have started patrolling the streets.

Polls open at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT), with results not expected before Saturday.

President Museveni is seeking his sixth elected term in office after 35 years in power.

Campaigning had been banned in the capital Kampala, and several other districts. The opposition says this is because it is popular in those areas, but the government says it was to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Opposition candidates - including Bobi Wine - their supporters and campaign staff have been arrested on several occasions.

The police say the deployment to shopping malls and other high-rise buildings comes after opposition activists commanded protests from rooftops in November when more than 50 people were killed after Bobi Wine was arrested.