Kampala:Uganda’s long serving President Yoweri Museveni has taken a strong lead in early results from the presidential election, according to figures released by the country’s electoral commission, as opposition groups raise serious concerns over violence and alleged irregularities.
Partial official results from about half of the polling stations showed Museveni with more than three quarters of the votes counted so far. His main challenger, opposition leader and pop star turned politician Bobi Wine, was trailing far behind with less than one quarter of the votes.
Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, is seeking another term in office. His dominance in the early results did not come as a surprise to many observers, given his long control over state institutions and the security forces.
The election, however, has been marked by tension and unrest. Opposition supporters and rights groups reported incidents of violence in several areas. In one district near the capital Kampala, security forces reportedly opened fire on people who were monitoring the vote count, leading to multiple deaths. Authorities said investigations were under way.
Bobi Wine and his party accused the government of widespread fraud, including ballot stuffing, intimidation of polling agents and arrests of opposition supporters. They also claimed that Wine was effectively under house arrest, a charge denied by police.
The vote took place under heavy security, with internet access restricted across the country. The government said the shutdown was necessary to prevent the spread of false information, while critics argued it limited transparency and the ability of citizens to follow the counting process.
International observers and the United Nations had earlier warned that the election was being held in a tense environment, with reports of harassment of opposition figures, journalists and civil society groups during the campaign period.
Vote counting is still continuing, and final certified results are expected in the coming days. As Uganda waits for the official outcome, fears remain that disputes over the process could lead to further unrest in the East African nation.