On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, the United States cancelled its decision to observe Uganda’s election accusing Uganda's electoral commission of failing to accredit its observers.
The American ambassador to Uganda, Natalie Brown, said in a statement said that the electoral commission had despite constant pleas and reminders failed to issue its observers with the necessary documents required for the elections.
According to Brown, only 15 of its observers had been granted access to the polls.
“It is with profound disappointment that I announce U.S. Mission in Uganda’s decision to cancel our diplomatic observation of Uganda’s January 14 elections due to the decision by the Electoral Commission of Uganda to deny more than 75 percent of the US election observer accreditations requested,” Brown said.
Uganda Elections
“With only 15 accreditations approved, it is not possible for the United States to meaningfully observe the conduct of Uganda’s elections at polling sites across the country,” she added.
On Tuesday, opposition candidate Bobi Wine said that the military raided his home, two days before the Ugandan presidential elections that pit him against the 76-year old president Yoweri Museveni.
“The army has this morning raided my home, arrested all my security guards and anyone they could see around my premises”, said the opposition candidate on Twitter.
“No reason for the arrest was given. Such acts of impunity are all kicks of a dying horse,” he added.
