In an eight-day span, the Ugandan government has seriously damaged its human rights reputation by riding roughshod over the rights of political opponents and the courts. The government has arrested the main presidential opponent, used commandos to intimidate the judiciary and banned all public protests, radio discussions and even posters on the subject.

In essence these are multi-party elections in a one-party state.

In essence these are multi-party elections in a one-party state. We urge all the election observers to take that into account and to address allegations of abuse.

Domestic and international observers have reported serious irregularities in the Ugandan election.

It is their duty to protect humanitarian operations and civilians in their immediate vicinity,

The Southern Sudan government budget depends on its share of oil revenue. With limited resources, the southern regional government cannot pay for a new judicial system or police department, nor can it implement plans to improve social services and build infrastructure.

The ruling party is playing a dirty game of intimidating the electorate and undermining the opposition.

The ruling party under President Yoweri Museveni is playing a dirty game of intimidating the electorate and undermining the opposition. The illegal involvement of the army in the campaign scares the electorate, while the opposition has its hands tied by politically motivated criminal charges against its leaders.

What people in the field ù the soldiers and their immediate officers ù haven't really been drilled in is what to do and how to cope in particular situations. They haven't been given clear instructions in how to deter and defeat forces that might attack civilians, and they need to be given clear and robust instructions to do everything that they have in their power to protect civilians.

The government waited until the elections were over and most of the foreign press and observers had gone to kick out one of the few resident foreign journalists.