Yoweri Museveni faces Bobi Wine in presidential poll

Polls have opened in Uganda, but voting has been disrupted by widespread logistical delays across the country due to internet shutdowns.

At 08:00 local time (05:00 GMT), the BBC observed that voting had not yet started at five polling stations in the capital Kampala, an hour after the polls opened.

The delays are due to malfunctions in biometric identification kits, which some attribute to a network outage.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has led the country for nearly four decades, appears set for a seventh term as he faces a challenge from a charismatic pop star.

The poll is essentially a two-horse race between Museveni and singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, but given the president has won the previous six elections, analysts say he will extend his time in power even further.

Wine, 43, has vowed to fight corruption and implement comprehensive reforms, while Museveni maintains that he is the sole guarantor of stability and progress in the country.

The campaign period was marred by the disruption of opposition activities; Security forces were accused of attacking and detaining Wine supporters.

Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke dismissed these complaints, accusing opposition supporters, especially those from Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party, of being disruptive.

Internet access was suspended before voting day after the Uganda Communications Commission said the blackout was necessary to prevent misinformation, fraud and incitement to violence; the move was condemned as “deeply concerning” by the UN human rights office.

NUP rejected this statement, accusing the regulator of trying to prevent the opposition from taking action and sharing evidence of election fraud.

Museveni, former leader of the guerrilla army, benefited from two constitutional amendments – removal of age and term limits – which allowed him to continue to hold office.

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, lost to the president in the 2021 elections. He received 35% of the vote compared to Museveni’s 59%, according to the electoral commission, but Wine rejected the results, claiming fraud.

In addition to Museveni and Wine, this year’s ballot papers include six other presidential candidates.

Voters will also elect a new parliament with 353 seats.

The economy is the key issue for many of those voting Thursday.

The majority of the population is under 30 years of age, and although average income is rising steadily, there are not enough jobs for all young people looking for work.

There are also concerns about poor infrastructure and inequalities in access to quality education and healthcare.

During the campaign period, opposition supporters faced increasing harassment, including arrest on politically motivated charges, according to both the United Nations and Amnesty International.

Unlike Museveni’s, Wine’s rallies were blocked by security forces.

Amnesty International described the use of tear gas, pepper spray, beatings and other violent actions ahead of the vote as a “brutal campaign of repression”.

In addition, Uganda’s electoral commission chief tells BBC he received threats warning him not to announce certain results.

“Some people say you will see this if you don’t declare him president. I tell them I am not in the business of donating votes,” said Simon Byabakama, promising that only the voters will decide who will win the election.

The 2012 elections also saw violence; Dozens of people were killed in protests and Security forces were responsible for at least some of these deaths.A BBC investigation revealed the following:

Security measures have been increased in Uganda’s capital Kampala since Saturday.

While the police were on patrol, armored vehicles were deployed at various points.

Some Kampala residents traveled to rural areas during the election period, saying they believed rural areas were safer.

“As Ugandan elections are often plagued by violence, I decided to re-register my polling station in my own village,” one man told the BBC. He asked to remain anonymous.

“I’m happy to make this decision because as you can see right now there is a heavy and intimidating security presence in the city. So although I will still vote in my village, I am also staying away for this security fear.”

Polls will close at 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Thursday, but anyone in the queue at that time will be allowed to vote.

The election commission said the result of the presidential vote will be announced at the same time on Saturday.