Uganda’s political landscape remains in a state of heightened tension as opposition leader Bobi Wine faces a complete communications blackout following a police raid on his residence. The security operation, which occurred on Saturday, effectively isolated the prominent challenger to President Yoweri Museveni’s longstanding administration just as election results were being finalized.
With more than 90% of votes counted, Uganda’s Electoral Commission reported President Museveni maintaining a commanding lead of 71.9% against Wine’s 24.5%. The 81-year-old incumbent, who seized power in 1986 as a former guerrilla fighter, appears poised to extend his four-decade rule amid widespread reports of electoral irregularities and suppression tactics.
The election period has been characterized by significant unrest, including an ongoing nationwide internet blackout implemented ahead of Thursday’s polls. According to opposition accounts, security personnel clad in black attire scaled the walls of Wine’s compound, confiscating communication devices and effectively cutting off all contact with the outside world.
Conflicting reports emerged regarding Wine’s whereabouts, with his party initially claiming he had been forcibly removed by military helicopter—an assertion later deleted and denied by army officials as ‘absurd’ and designed to ‘incite his supporters.’ Local residents reported hearing drones and helicopters near the opposition leader’s residence throughout Friday night, with many fleeing the area due to security concerns.
Police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke defended the security measures, stating authorities had ‘controlled access in areas we feel are security hotspots’ to prevent gatherings that might ‘incite violence.’
The electoral process itself faced substantial challenges, with malfunctioning biometric verification machines and delayed ballot deliveries in multiple regions. Beyond the capital, reports emerged of violent confrontations, including claims from opposition parliament member Muwanga Kivumbi that security forces had killed ten campaign agents in Butambala after storming his home.
Police provided an alternative account, stating an ‘unspecified number’ of people had been ‘put out of action’ when opposition members allegedly planned to attack a local tally center and police station.
The United Nations human rights office had previously warned that the elections were occurring in an environment of ‘widespread repression and intimidation’ against opposition voices, though many of the allegations remain difficult to verify independently due to communication restrictions and limited media access.