KAMPALA, Uganda – Votes are being counted in parts of Uganda following a tense presidential and parliamentary election marked by an internet shutdown, widespread technical failures and opposition allegations of electoral fraud.
Opposition presidential candidate Bobi Wine has accused authorities of orchestrating “massive ballot-stuffing everywhere,” claims he shared on social media without presenting documentary evidence. Wine, the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), also alleges that many of his party’s polling agents and supervisors were abducted or chased away from polling stations during voting.
Ugandan authorities have not formally responded to the allegations.
Voting across the country was disrupted by delays of up to four hours, largely blamed on malfunctioning biometric voter verification machines. Some observers and opposition figures have linked the technical problems to the nationwide internet blackout, shortages of voting materials and the late arrival of equipment at several polling stations.
As a result, many polling centres closed later than scheduled. The Electoral Commission said all voters who were in line by 5:00pm local time (14:00 GMT) were allowed to cast their ballots. Earlier in the day, the commission apologised for the “technical glitches,” saying officials were working to resolve the issues.
In Kampala, polling stations visited by international media closed at around 6:00pm despite the delays. While official voter turnout figures have not yet been released, reports from the capital suggest that some voters left without casting their ballots due to frustration and long waits.
“I’m angry because I have not voted up to now. We were meant to start at seven, but by eight the ballots weren’t even here,” said Kaweesi Ismail, a voter in Kampala, speaking to Prime Africa.
Electoral Commission Chairperson Simon Byabakama authorised the use of the national voters’ register in areas where biometric machines failed. The problems were reported in both pro-government regions and opposition strongholds.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who is seeking a seventh term after nearly four decades in power, acknowledged experiencing difficulties while voting in his home village of Rwakitura in western Uganda.
“I put my thumbprint on the machine but it did not accept it. However, my face was accepted instantly. The machine works,” Museveni said, adding that authorities were investigating whether the problems were deliberate.
The presidential race is largely seen as a two-horse contest between Museveni and Wine, a 43-year-old former pop star turned politician. Although analysts predict Museveni is likely to retain power, Wine has promised sweeping reforms and a crackdown on corruption if elected.
The Electoral Commission says the final presidential results will be announced by Saturday at 4:00pm local time (13:00 GMT).
The campaign period was marked by repeated disruption of opposition activities. Security forces have been accused by human rights groups of assaulting and detaining opposition supporters. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke dismissed the claims, accusing NUP supporters of causing unrest.
Internet access was suspended earlier this week, with the Uganda Communications Commission saying the move was necessary to prevent misinformation, fraud and incitement to violence. The shutdown has been condemned by the United Nations human rights office as “deeply worrying.”
The NUP rejected the explanation, accusing authorities of attempting to block mobilisation and the sharing of evidence of electoral malpractice. The party says it deployed an offline vote-monitoring application, Bitchat, which uses Bluetooth technology to transmit images of results forms without internet access.
Ugandans are also voting to elect a new parliament, with 353 seats contested nationwide.
For many voters, economic concerns dominate the election. Uganda has a young population, with the majority under 30, and while incomes are slowly rising, unemployment remains high. Poor infrastructure, limited access to quality education and inadequate healthcare services are also key issues.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, say opposition supporters faced escalating harassment during the campaign, describing the period as a “brutal campaign of repression” involving tear gas, beatings and arrests.
As counting continues, the country remains on edge, with both domestic and international observers closely watching the process and its outcome.
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