Votes are still being counted in parts of Uganda after a tense election day marked by an internet shutdown, technical problems at polling stations, and strong accusations of rigging from the opposition.
Opposition leader Bobi Wine took to social media to allege widespread malpractice, claiming there was “massive ballot-stuffing everywhere.” He did not, however, present evidence to back the claim. Authorities have yet to respond to these allegations, or to his assertion that several polling agents and supervisors from his National Unity Platform (NUP) were abducted or forced away from polling stations.
Voting was delayed at many centres, with some opening as much as four hours late. Officials blamed faulty biometric machines used to verify voters, while others pointed to the nationwide internet outage, shortages of voting materials, and late delivery of equipment. As a result, several polling stations closed later than scheduled.
The Electoral Commission said anyone who was already in a queue by 5:00pm local time was allowed to vote. Earlier in the day, it apologised for what it described as “technical glitches” and said steps were being taken to fix the problems.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, is seeking a seventh term in office. His main challenger is Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old pop star-turned-politician whose campaign has drawn strong support from young voters. The Electoral Commission says the final presidential results are expected by Saturday afternoon.
In Kampala, polling stations visited by the BBC had closed by 6:00pm, despite the earlier disruptions. While official turnout figures are not yet available, the delays suggest some voters may have left without casting their ballots. Others, however, stayed put, voicing frustration over the chaos.
“I’m angry because I haven’t voted yet,” said Kaweesi Ismail, a voter in the capital. “We were supposed to start at seven, but even by eight nothing had begun. The ballot papers weren’t there. I don’t even know what to say.”
Although eight candidates are contesting the presidency, analysts see the race largely as a contest between Museveni and Wine. Given Museveni’s track record of winning six previous elections, many expect him to extend his long stay in power. Wine, on the other hand, has pledged sweeping reforms and a tough stance on corruption, while Museveni presents himself as the country’s anchor of stability and development.
The campaign period was fraught with tension. Opposition activities were frequently disrupted, with security forces accused of assaulting and detaining Wine’s supporters. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke rejected those claims, instead accusing opposition supporters—particularly those from NUP—of causing disorder.
Internet access was shut down earlier in the week, with Uganda’s Communications Commission saying the move was necessary to prevent misinformation, fraud, and incitement to violence. The decision was criticised by the UN human rights office as “deeply worrying.” NUP dismissed the explanation, arguing the blackout was intended to cripple opposition mobilisation and prevent the sharing of evidence of electoral wrongdoing.
In response, the party rolled out an offline vote-monitoring app called Bitchat, which uses Bluetooth to share images of results forms and voting data without internet access, according to Wine.
Museveni’s continued eligibility to run has been enabled by constitutional amendments that removed both age and term limits. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, previously lost to Museveni in the 2021 election, results he rejected amid allegations of fraud.
Alongside the presidential vote, Ugandans are also electing a new parliament, with 353 seats at stake. For many voters, the economy is the dominant concern. Uganda has a young population—most people are under 30—and while incomes are rising gradually, jobs remain scarce. Poor infrastructure and unequal access to education and healthcare also weigh heavily on voters’ minds.
Human rights groups say pressure on opposition supporters intensified during the campaign. Both the UN and Amnesty International have reported arrests and harassment on what they describe as politically motivated grounds. Amnesty has condemned the use of tear gas, beatings, and pepper spray against opposition rallies as a “brutal campaign of repression.”
Adding to the tension, the head of Uganda’s Electoral Commission told the BBC he has received threats warning him against declaring certain results.