Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


             Museveni Sworn in Amid Tension, Social Media Blackout

   by Lizabeth Paulat

   Dancing to marching bands and musicians, supporters decked out in
   yellow - the color of the ruling party - awaited Ugandan President
   Yoweri Museveni's arrival at the Kololo Airstrip.

   The longtime president took his fifth oath of office Thursday.

   "We came on the bus, we are too excited," said one supporter who
   traveled in from Karamoja, nearly 500 kilometers away.  "We are big
   supporters and we shall need him again for the next term."

   Museveni arrived amid a chorus of cheers, and within the hour he was
   sworn into office.  He has been in power since 1986.

   But the celebration took place against a backdrop of tension.  The
   government cut all social media before the inauguration.  Police were
   out in force in downtown Kampala, after unrest Wednesday.

   Surprise appearance

   Opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, had managed to escape house arrest
   and make a surprise appearance in town.  He vowed to continue his
   campaign of defiance as the "people's president."  Supporters flocked
   to see him.

   ''
   Police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd and began beating
   civilians, according to witnesses and videos posted on social media.

   "They [police] find us when we were closing the shop, they told us you
   close your shop and we go," said one shopkeeper who was beaten.  He
   said people panicked and ran to nearby buildings.

   "Then they started caning, seriously, without something to do... men
   and women, anyone that entered into the building.  Now what should we
   do?" he said.

   Besigye finished second in the February vote, but has called for an
   independent audit of results that saw Museveni win 61 percent of votes.

   The opposition FDC party said it held its own inauguration for Besigye,
   tweeting a video of the event Wednesday.  Shortly after, the government
   cut social media access in the country.

   This is the second time a social media blackout has been enforced.  The
   first time was during the February 18 poll, though many got around it
   using VPN, or virtual private network.

   Before the inauguration, tech-savvy Ugandans began warning friends on
   social media to make sure their VPN apps were updated.

     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/museveni-sworn-in-amid-tension-and-so
   cial-media-blackout/3327472.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/museveni-sworn-in-amid-tension-and-social-media-blackout/3327472.html