Uganda’s electoral commission has announced early presidential election results showing President Yoweri Museveni with a commanding lead, following a tense and heavily scrutinised vote marked by violence, delays, and an internet shutdown.
Partial results released on Friday morning indicate that Museveni secured about 76 percent the vote based on returns from roughly 45 percent of polling stations nationwide. His closest challenger, opposition leader Bobi Wine, is trailing with approximately 20 percent, according to figures cited by the electoral agency.
Ugandans voted on Thursday after a campaign period widely described as hostile and militarised. Museveni, now 81, is seeking a seventh term in office, extending a presidency that has lasted four decades. His main rival, Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old musician-turned-politician and leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has positioned himself as the voice of the country’s youthful population and a challenger to what he calls entrenched authoritarian rule.
Wine has alleged that the election was marred by “massive” fraud, arguing that the credibility of the vote was undermined by a nationwide internet blackout imposed ahead of polling day. While he has not presented documentary evidence to support his claims, international observers and rights groups have repeatedly criticised Uganda’s use of digital shutdowns during elections. Authorities have so far not responded directly to Wine’s allegations.
Tensions escalated late on Thursday when the NUP claimed that security forces surrounded Wine’s residence in Kampala, effectively placing him and his wife under house arrest. The party said security officers had jumped the perimeter fence and erected tents inside the compound. As of Friday, police and military officials had not commented on the claims. Wine faced a similar confinement after the disputed 2021 election, when he said he was prevented from leaving his home for several days.
The voting process itself was disrupted across several regions. Polling reportedly started up to four hours late in many areas due to delayed delivery of ballot materials and malfunctions in biometric voter verification machines. Some election observers linked these problems to the wider network outage, which affected communications and logistics on election day.
Although six other candidates are contesting the presidency, the race is widely viewed as a two-man contest between Museveni and Wine. Museveni has won all previous six elections since taking power in 1986 and is expected by analysts to maintain his grip on power, citing his control over state institutions and the security apparatus.
Wine, who has drawn strong support among younger voters, has promised to fight corruption, reform state institutions, and reduce the military’s influence in civilian affairs. Museveni, by contrast, has campaigned as a guarantor of stability, economic growth, and regional security, warning that a change in leadership could plunge the country into chaos.
The campaign period was punctuated by reports of violence and intimidation, particularly targeting opposition supporters. Human rights groups documented arrests, injuries, and restrictions on opposition activities, allegations that police have consistently denied. The United Nations and other international bodies have condemned the internet shutdown, warning that it undermines transparency and democratic participation.
Final results are expected in the coming days, but with early tallies heavily favouring the incumbent, Uganda appears set for another contested electoral outcome, with renewed questions over democratic space, civil liberties, and political succession in one of Africa’s longest-ruling governments.
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