Human rights groups say Uganda's upcoming election on Thursday is being overshadowed by detentions, intimidation and violence.

Opposition politicians and activists in Uganda have experienced increased arrests, violence, and disruptions to their rallies in the lead-up to the national election. Notable figures such as Robert Chagulanyi (Bobby Wine), Kiza Besije, and Sara Berete have been targeted, with Besije on trial for treason and Berete detained over alleged unlawful access to voter data.

Human rights organizations have criticized the deployment of military forces and the use of excessive force against opposition supporters. Police authorities maintain that their actions are in line with the law and are necessary to restore order, but opposition supporters argue these measures have heightened fear and oppression.

Uganda opposition faces violence and arrests ahead of election

An opposition rally disrupted in the northern city of Gulu in December. Such scenes are not new on the campaign trail in Uganda. Of all the candidates, opposition leader Robert Chagulanyi, also known as Bobby Wine, and his supporters appear to be the most frequently targeted by security forces. But he's not the only one. Some activists have been arrested, while others have disappeared. Winnie Byanyima's husband, opposition leader Kiza Besije, is on trial for treason. Charges he, his lawyers and many Ugandans say are trumped up. He is as sure as night follows day that he's not getting a fair trial. It's already not been fair. He was forced to plea just a few weeks ago, when even the charge sheet was not signed. And then there's Sara Berete, a longtime critic of President Yoweri Museveni and his administration. She's now in detention, charged with unlawfully accessing voter data. We interviewed her in September. I think the ratings for Uganda's electoral processes are at their lowest. We have had a period of very minimal or no voter education. So the process of preparing citizens on what is required of them, what is required of the other stakeholders, how best should they conduct themselves, has not happened. The pressure is on high a lot. Ahead of the election, the military has been deployed to support security operations. Human rights groups say security forces often use excessive force on opposition politicians and their supporters. But the police say that they're just restoring order and following the law. Police accuse the opposition of failing to adhere to campaign regulations, sometimes causing chaos and disrupting traffic. But opposition supporters say it's fuelling fear, tension and a deepening sense of oppression. Catherine Soyi, Al Jazeera, Kampala.

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