Polling stations across Uganda opened on Thursday amid heavy security deployments, a nationwide internet blackout and widespread fears of violence, as President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his nearly four-decade rule in a highly contentious general election.
Voting began shortly after 7.00am (0400 GMT) in parts of the capital Kampala, though delays were reported in some areas — a common occurrence in Ugandan elections — according to AFP journalists on the ground. In the eastern border town of Jinja, heavy patrols by police and army personnel were visible, underscoring the tense atmosphere gripping the East African nation of some 46 million people.
More than 21.6 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots in the presidential and parliamentary polls. In a country where 70 percent of the population is under 35, youth unemployment remains a burning issue for first-time voters disillusioned with decades of entrenched leadership.
Internet suspension sparks international concern
The Uganda Communications Commission imposed the internet suspension starting Tuesday evening, directing mobile operators to block public access to curb what it described as misinformation, disinformation, electoral fraud and related risks. The move, which has left many Ugandans unable to communicate freely or access online information, drew sharp condemnation from the United Nations Human Rights Office.
Open access to communication and information is key to free and genuine elections, the UN office stressed on Wednesday, adding that all Ugandans must be able to take part in shaping their future and the future of their country.
Rights groups and international observers have described the pre-election environment as one of pervasive repression. The blackout was deemed especially alarming amid a campaign already marred by massive repression and an unprecedented crackdown on opposition parties and dissenting voices.
Rematch with Bobi Wine amid repression claims
At the heart of the contest is a rematch from 2021: the 81-year-old Museveni, who seized power in 1986 and has since overseen constitutional changes to remove age and term limits, faces off against 43-year-old pop star-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine.
Wine, leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has campaigned in a flak jacket and helmet, branding the election a war against what he calls a military dictator. He has accused authorities of planning to rig the vote, brutalise supporters and hide abuses from the world by cutting internet access.
We are very aware that they are planning to rig the election, to brutalise people, to kill people, and they don’t want the rest of the world to see, Wine told AFP in the run-up to the vote.
His rallies have repeatedly been disrupted by security forces using tear gas, live ammunition and arrests, with hundreds of his supporters detained in recent months. The UN Human Rights Office warned last week of widespread repression and intimidation targeting opposition figures, human rights defenders, journalists and critics.
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) dismisses such accusations, insisting the measures maintain order and prevent chaos.
Public anxiety and preparations for unrest
Adding to public anxiety, the Daily Monitor newspaper published a full-page advisory on election-proofing homes, urging citizens to reinforce doors and windows and prepare safe rooms in anticipation of potential unrest.
Partial results are expected later Thursday after polls close, but observers warn that the combination of restricted information flows, heavy militarisation and historical allegations of fraud could further erode trust in the process.
Museveni, who portrays himself as the guarantor of stability in a volatile region, is widely expected to secure a seventh term. Yet the election highlights deeper questions about Uganda’s future, including generational demands for change and uncertainties over eventual succession.
As queues formed outside polling stations under the watchful eyes of armed personnel, many Ugandans braced for a day that could define — or further divide — the nation’s democratic trajectory.
