{"id":111181,"date":"2026-01-15T07:58:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-15T07:58:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=111181"},"modified":"2026-01-15T07:58:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T07:58:51","slug":"polls-open-in-tense-uganda-election-amid-widespread-delays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=111181","title":{"rendered":"Polls open in tense Uganda election amid widespread delays"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Polls have opened in Uganda\u2019s presidential and parliamentary elections, though voting has been disrupted by widespread logistical delays across the country amid an internet shutdown.<\/p>\n

At 08:00 local time (05:00 GMT), the BBC observed that things had yet to get going at five polling stations in the capital, Kampala, an hour after voting was due to start.<\/p>\n

The delays have been blamed on failures of biometric identification kits, which some have linked to the network outage.<\/p>\n

In the presidential race, Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has ruled the country for nearly four decades, is seeking a seventh successive election victory as he faces a challenge from a charismatic pop star.<\/p>\n

\"Polls
Voters in parts of the capital, Kampala, found polling stations still not open a hour after voting was due to start.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Where voting has been taking place, there are reports that the biometric machines used to verify voters\u2019 identities are still malfunctioning in some areas.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome biometric machines are not working. I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the internet,\u201d a ruling party official told AFP news agency.<\/p>\n

Delays have also been caused by polling materials and equipment failing to arrive at some stations on time.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe arrived early at the polling station, but the voting equipment has not yet arrived,\u201d a voter in Kampala told state-run UBC TV.<\/p>\n

The problems appear to be affecting areas that are seen as pro-government as well as areas that are seen as pro-opposition.<\/p>\n

The poll is essentially a two-horse race between Museveni and singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, but given the president has won the six previous elections, analysts say he is likely to further extend his time in power.<\/p>\n

Wine, 43, has promised to tackle corruption and impose sweeping reforms, while Museveni argues he is the sole guarantor of stability and progress in the country.<\/p>\n

The campaign period was marred by the disruption of opposition activities \u2013 security forces have been accused of assaulting and detaining Wine\u2019s supporters.<\/p>\n

Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke dismissed these complaints, accusing opposition supporters, particularly those belonging to Wine\u2019s National Unity Platform (NUP) party, of being disruptive.<\/p>\n

The former leader of a guerrilla army, Museveni has benefitted from two constitutional amendments \u2013 removing age and term limits \u2013 that have allowed him to keep running for office.<\/p>\n

Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, lost to the president in the 2021 elections. According to the electoral commission, he gained 35% of the vote compared to Museveni\u2019s 59%, although Wine dismissed the results, alleging fraud.<\/p>\n

Alongside Museveni and Wine, six other presidential candidates are on this year\u2019s ballot papers.<\/p>\n

Voters will also chose a new parliament, with 353 seats up for grabs.<\/p>\n

For many of those voting on Thursday, the economy is the key issue.<\/p>\n

The majority of the population is under 30 and although the average income is steadily rising, there are not enough jobs for all the young people looking for work.<\/p>\n

\"Polls
Biometric machines meant to verify voters\u2019 identity have malfunctioned in some areas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are also concerns about poor infrastructure and disparities in access to quality education and healthcare.<\/p>\n

During the campaign period, opposition supporters have faced escalating harassment, including arrest on politically motivated charges, according to both the United Nations and Amnesty International.<\/p>\n

Wine\u2019s rallies, unlike those of Museveni, have been disrupted by security forces.<\/p>\n

Amnesty has described the use of tear gas, pepper spray, beatings and other violent acts as \u201ca brutal campaign of repression\u201d ahead of the vote.<\/p>\n

In addition, the head of Uganda\u2019s electoral body told the BBC he has received threats warning him against declaring certain results.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome people say if you don\u2019t declare so-and-so as president, you will see. I tell them that I am not in the business of donating votes,\u201d said Simon Byabakama, vowing that only the voters would decide who won the election.<\/p>\n

The 2012 elections were also characterised by violence \u2013 dozens of people were killed in protests and the security forces were responsible for at least some of these deaths, a BBC investigation found.<\/p>\n

Since Saturday, security has been heightened in Kampala, Uganda\u2019s capital city.<\/p>\n

Officers have been marching in formation and conducting patrols, while armoured vehicles have been stationed at various locations.<\/p>\n

Some Kampala residents have travelled to rural areas, saying they believe it is safer there during the election period.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Ugandan elections are often violent, I decided to re-register my polling centre in my home village,\u201d one man told the BBC. He wished to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m glad I made that decision, because as you can see now, there is a heavy and intimidating security presence in the city. So while I will still vote in my village, I am also staying away from this security scare.\u201d<\/p>\n

Polls are due to close at 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Thursday, although anyone in the queue at this time will be allowed to vote.<\/p>\n

The result of the presidential vote will be announced by the same time on Saturday, the electoral commission has said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"PollsPolls have opened in Uganda\u2019s presidential and parliamentary elections, though voting has been disrupted by widespread logistical delays across the country amid an internet shutdown. At 08:00 local time (05:00 GMT), the BBC observed that things had yet to get going at five polling stations in the capital, Kampala, an hour after voting was due [\u2026]<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":111182,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2164,9186,1966,1910,117,10,9,15393,15394],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-111181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bbc","category-bobi-wine","category-hp-news-6","category-international","category-news","category-politics","category-popular","category-ugandan-elections","category-yoweri-museveni"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111181","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=111181"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/111181\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/111182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=111181"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=111181"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=111181"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}