NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 13- Four human rights defenders were on Wednesday morning arrested outside Uganda house in Nairobi, moments before they could issue a statement on the Uganda elections.
Shahidi News has established those arrested include Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid, Beatrice Waithera, Ojiro Odhiambo and Yassah Musa.
They were being held at the Central Police Station.
Shahidi News could not immediately establish the offense they had committed, if any.
They had converged at the Ugandan embassy located within Uganda house to issue a statement in solidarity with Ugandans “against police excesses and securitisation of elections.”
Ugandan pop star-turned opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, Bobi Wine, is facing off long time President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni who is seeking a sixth term in office.
President Museveni has been accused of using the state machinery to muzzle the opposition with campaigns marred by violence and police killings.
The 76 year-old faces 10 challengers, but it’s Bobi Wine who has posed the most formidable challenge.
Human rights groups have accused security officers in the East Africa country of using excessive force to break up opposition rallies during the campaign.
Some 18.1 million Ugandans are expected to participate in the elections on Thursday.
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