Vote counting was under way in parts of Uganda on Friday following presidential and parliamentary elections held amid an internet shutdown and growing allegations of electoral irregularities from the opposition.
Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, claimed widespread malpractice during the polling process. In a post on social media, he alleged that “massive ballot-stuffing” had been reported across the country, though he did not present documentary evidence to support the claim.
Bobi Wine, who is the leader of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP), also accused authorities of targeting his party’s election personnel. He said that several polling agents and supervisors affiliated with the NUP were abducted, while others were chased away from polling stations, raising concerns about the transparency of the vote.
The Ugandan authorities have not publicly responded to the allegations of electoral fraud or to the claims regarding the disappearance and harassment of opposition polling agents.
Meanwhile, election officials reported delays at numerous polling stations, with some opening or operating up to four hours behind schedule. The delays were attributed to technical problems with biometric voter verification machines used to confirm voters’ identities.
The elections are seen as a key test for Uganda’s democratic process, with local and international observers closely monitoring the outcome as vote tallying continues.
