Uganda’s general election has been marred by allegations of widespread electoral malpractice, including ballot stuffing, and a nationwide internet shutdown. Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, the main opposition presidential candidate, made the accusations on social media, stating that the shutdown had plunged the country into darkness and was being used to conceal alleged abuses from public scrutiny.
According to Wine, several incidents of ballot stuffing have been recorded, and the regime’s military and police are directly involved in repressing opposition agents at polling stations. He also claimed that many opposition leaders, including the National Unity Platform’s Deputy President for the Western Region, had been arrested, while polling agents and supervisors were abducted or chased away from polling stations.
The election, which took place on Thursday, was also affected by technical setbacks, including the malfunctioning of biometric voter verification machines in several parts of the country. The Electoral Commission temporarily suspended biometric verification in affected areas and authorized the use of manual voter registers to prevent voter disenfranchisement.
President Yoweri Museveni, who is seeking a seventh term in office, said he had ordered investigations into the failure of the biometric system after it reportedly failed to recognize his thumbprint at his polling station. Museveni was eventually cleared to vote using facial recognition.
The poll pits Museveni, who has ruled since 1986, against Bobi Wine, a former pop star-turned-politician who has galvanized the country’s youthful population with promises to fight corruption and push sweeping reforms. Uganda has 21.7 million registered voters, and the election is also choosing a new Parliament and local government leaders.
The internet shutdown, which was ordered ahead of polling day, has been criticized by opposition leaders and civil society groups, who say it has restricted transparency and limited the ability of observers and citizens to report irregularities. Results of the presidential election are expected to be announced within 48 hours after polls closed.
The election has significant implications for Uganda’s future, with the country’s youthful population seeking change and reform. The international community is watching the election closely, and the outcome is expected to have a major impact on the country’s stability and development. As the country awaits the results, concerns about the integrity of the electoral process remain, and the role of the international community in ensuring a free and fair election will be crucial in the coming days.
