Polls opened in Uganda on Thursday (Jan. 15) in a tightly controlled general election, with President Yoweri Museveni seeking to extend his nearly four-decade rule amid security deployments, voting delays, and an internet shutdown.
The government ordered mobile operators to block public internet access ahead of polling. Security forces were heavily deployed in Kampala and Jinja, while opposition figures reported late openings at polling stations. Partial results are expected after polls close.
The United Nations Human Rights Office warned that open access to information is essential for credible elections and said voters were participating amid repression and intimidation.
Opposition challenger Bobi Wine, leader of the National Unity Platform, accused the authorities of planning to rig the vote and suppress dissent. His party said hundreds of supporters were detained before polling day.
More than 21.6 million voters were registered, with unemployment a key concern in a country where most citizens are under 35.
ℹ️ Al Jazeera
Follow on social media TikTok@tut0ughInstagram@tut0ugh Threads@tut0ugh X@tut0ugh YouTube@tut0ugh
tut0ugh 