Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni held his final campaign rally in the capital Kampala on Tuesday, in a grand show most international media were blocked from covering.The 81-year-old leader, who has held power in the east African nation for four decades, is widely expected to win elections on Thursday due to his total control over state and security bodies.Campaigning has been marked by violence and intimidation, with international monitors describing increased repression in the run-up to polls including hundreds of arrests of opposition supporters.Thousands walked to Kololo National Ceremonial Gardens for Museveni’s rally, many telling AFP they had been bussed into the capital for the event and given free food.Foreign journalists were repeatedly denied access to the grounds despite having full accreditation from the government, and a number were threatened with arrest.”Your camera is not welcome,” an unidentified Special Forces Command (SFC) officer told the reporters after asking to inspect their media credentials and passes.A security officer told AFP he had not received “clearance” for international media to enter the grounds, despite a senior advisor to the president earlier insisting they were not banned.- ‘We need even more’ -Despite a heavy security presence, thousands attended the colourful procession featuring a life-size mascot of Museveni that waved mechanically at the cheering crowds.Banura Oliver, 41, said she would vote for the president because of the peace he had brought to the country in the 1980s.”Forty years doesn’t even matter, we need even more,” she told AFP, adding she was dismissive of the main opposition candidate Bobi Wine, 43.”If Ugandan people vote badly and vote for this young boy, we are going to suffer. He is not a good leader,” she said. Others said they were only there for the free rice and meat and did not intend to vote for Museveni.”You give me food for today, but what is tomorrow?” Mugaala, 23 and unemployed, who did not want to give his second name, told AFP.Much of the crowd wore yellow t-shirts emblazoned with Museveni’s face and slogan, “Protecting the gains”.Drina, 18, a stall vendor selling the t-shirts, as well as replicas of Museveni’s trademark wide-brimmed hat, said they were going for roughly 10,000 shillings ($3) and that she had sold 10 so far.”I voted for him four times,” said James Musapa, 60, recalling the “suffering” when Uganda was ruled by dictator Idi Amin in the 1970s. “When this one, Museveni, came to power, everything’s working.”
