Uganda President accuses Facebook of interference, alleges 'outside support' for Bobi Wine

Ugandan official and presidential spokesman Don Wanyama accused Facebook of interfering in country's election. This happened after several accounts that were linked to President Yoweri Museveni’s campaign were removed for alleged inauntic behaviour. According to AP reports, Wanyama said, "Facebook is interfering in electoral process of Uganda. If people wanted to have evidence of outside interference, w y have it."

He also said that Facebook’s action was evidence of what authorities of Uganda see as outside support of Bobi Wine. In a statement emailed to AP, Facebook said that a network of accounts and ps "used fake and duplicate accounts to man ps, comment on or people’s content, impersonate users, re-share posts in groups to make m appear more popular than y were. Given impending election in Uganda, we moved quickly to investigate and take down this network."  statement also added that network is linked to Uganda’s Ministry of Information and Communications Techlogy. 

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'Outside support'

Wanyama accused Facebook of blocking accounts of Museveni’s mobilisers, specifically those who use local Luganda langu. Blocked accounts mostly include those who campaigned against presidential challenger Bobi Wine. popular musician turned politician was also arrested with his campaign team while travelling in an island region outside capital recently. He has been arrested many times previously and has also been accused of disrupting public order.

Wine supporters, bloggers and several journalists were also arrested during operation. An official from Wine's National Unity Platform (NUP) said military had tried to "usurp powers of people." 

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(Im Credits: AP/Unsplash)