The main opposition presidential candidate in Uganda was arrested late Thursday in Kampala, the capital, his aide said, as vote counting began in presidential and parliamentary elections marred by the late arrival of voting materials.
The candidate, Kizza Besigye, was arrested in the suburb of Naguru, where he had gone to investigate reports of ballot-stuffing in a house run by the country’s intelligence agencies, said his aide, Shawn Mubiru, who is in charge of communications for Mr. Besigye’s party, the Forum for Democratic Change.
He said Mr. Besigye was taken to an unknown location. The police did not respond to requests for comment.
Mr. Besigye is the main challenger to President Yoweri Museveni in the presidential election, in which six other opposition candidates are also running.
Mr. Besigye’s supporters said the delays were deliberate and were aimed at favoring Mr. Museveni and as a countermeasure against Mr. Besigye, who is popular in Kampala. A senior foreign election observer called the delays “absolutely inexcusable.” Several dozen polling places never opened on Thursday, and the election commission late Thursday said they would be open on Friday.
