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Museveni Holds Commanding Early Lead in Uganda’s Opaque Election Count

Independent scrutiny remains limited under an internet shutdown with monitors sidelined.

Overview

  • Partial tallies from the Electoral Commission put Yoweri Museveni at roughly 75–76% with Bobi Wine near 20%, based on results from about half of polling stations, with final results expected by early Saturday.
  • Bobi Wine’s party says security forces have effectively confined him at home, while police deny a house arrest as journalists observed a security presence outside his residence.
  • A nationwide internet blackout remains in place as authorities restrict information flows, and several democracy and human-rights groups were suspended before the vote, drawing concern from the U.N. rights office.
  • Voting was slowed by widespread failures of biometric verification kits, late delivery of materials and a switch to manual checks, with Museveni himself acknowledging problems casting his ballot.
  • Reports of deadly post-vote violence in Butambala are disputed, with police citing self-defense against armed attackers and an opposition lawmaker alleging 10 supporters were shot inside his house, claims not independently verified.