Uganda’s long-serving President Yoweri Museveni is poised for a seventh term after securing a commanding lead in Thursday’s presidential election, while his main rival Bobi Wine has denounced the process as fraudulent and faced security restrictions. Early results from 81% of polling stations show Museveni with 74% of the vote compared to Wine’s 23%, but the opposition has dismissed these figures as fabricated, alleging vote theft and irregularities.
The election, held on January 16, 2026, was marred by delays and technical issues, with voting postponed by up to four hours in many areas due to problems with biometric machines and ballot box deliveries. An internet blackout imposed earlier in the week, justified by authorities to prevent misinformation, hampered communication and the verification of incidents reported during the vote count. This shutdown delayed news of violence and unrest, highlighting the tense atmosphere surrounding the electoral process.
Bobi Wine, a pop star-turned-politician, claimed he was placed under house arrest after alleging fraud, and his party later reported that a helicopter forcibly removed him from his home in Kampala to an unknown location. Police have denied knowledge of this incident, stating that security around his residence was for his protection as a “person of interest.” Journalists were blocked from accessing the area, adding to concerns over transparency and the safety of opposition figures during the critical post-election phase.
Violence erupted in Butambala, southwest of the capital, where at least seven opposition supporters were killed under disputed circumstances. According to reports from Wine’s National Unity Platform party, soldiers and police fired tear gas and live bullets at crowds gathering to hear results, resulting in multiple deaths. Police countered that they acted in self-defence against armed individuals planning to attack a tallying centre, underscoring the conflicting narratives and heightened security measures across the country.
The internet shutdown has compounded difficulties in verifying events, with details of the violence only emerging on Friday. The United Nations had previously expressed concern over “widespread repression and intimidation” during the campaign, which saw opposition activities disrupted and supporters detained. Museveni, 81, who first took power in 1986, has campaigned on stability and progress, while Wine, 43, appeals to Uganda’s youth with promises of reform and anti-corruption measures in a nation where most of the population is under 30.
Electoral chief Simon Byabakama assured that vote counting continued via a private system unaffected by the internet blackout and that final results would be announced within 48 hours, by Saturday afternoon. He dismissed concerns over the transparency of the process, despite opposition claims of vote theft and calls for an independent investigation into the allegations of fraud and violence.
International observers and human rights groups have raised alarms about the fairness of the election, citing the pre-election environment of suppression. The U.S. embassy issued an alert to its citizens due to reports of security forces using tear gas and firing into the air to disperse gatherings, reflecting the broader geopolitical attention on Uganda’s democratic processes.
As Uganda awaits the official declaration, the outcome seems set to extend Museveni’s decades-long rule, but the allegations of irregularities and the heavy-handed security response suggest ongoing political instability. The focus now shifts to how the opposition will mobilize and whether international pressure might influence post-election developments in one of Africa’s youngest nations, with implications for regional stability and governance norms.
