Voting is ongoing in parts of Uganda as the country holds its presidential and parliamentary elections, but the process has been marred by delays, equipment failures, and an internet blackout. According to the BBC, opposition figures have raised concerns over alleged electoral fraud and intimidation at polling stations.
Presidential hopeful Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old former pop star, claimed on social media that “massive ballot-stuffing [was] reported everywhere,” though he did not provide documentary evidence. Wine also stated that many of his party’s polling agents and supervisors were “abducted, and others chased off polling stations.” The authorities have not publicly responded to these allegations.
Technical issues have also slowed the voting process. Biometric machines used to verify voters’ identities reportedly malfunctioned, sometimes causing delays of up to four hours. Some polling stations also lacked materials or received equipment late, leading to extended opening hours. The electoral commission assured voters that anyone in line by 5 p.m. local time would still be able to cast their ballot.
Voters voiced frustration at the disruptions. “I’m angry because I have not voted up to now. We are meant to start at seven, but up to now [08:00] we haven’t started. The ballot papers are not even here, I don’t even know what to say,” said Kaweesi Ismail, a voter in Kampala, as reported by the BBC.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has been in power since 1986 and is seeking a seventh term, also experienced problems at his polling station in Rwakitura Village, Mbarara. “I put my thumbprint on the machine but it did not accept it. However, my face was accepted instantly by the machine. The machine works,” Museveni said. When asked whether he would accept the outcome of the elections, he responded: “This is one of the manipulations — we have to find out why, what was the problem? We are now verifying whether this was deliberate.”
Despite the delays and challenges, some polling stations reported smooth voting, though turnout data has not yet been published. The BBC noted that these issues affected both government strongholds and opposition-leaning areas.
Ugandans will learn the results of the presidential vote by 4 p.m. local time (1 p.m. GMT) on Saturday, according to the electoral commission.
