Uganda’s leading opposition presidential candidate, Bobi Wine, has alleged widespread electoral malpractice, arrests of opposition figures, and a nationwide internet shutdown on Election Day.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Wine accused authorities of carrying out what he described as a coordinated crackdown aimed at undermining the electoral process and suppressing opposition participation.
“The world needs to know what is happening in Uganda on election day,” Wine wrote, alleging “massive ballot stuffing reported everywhere” and confirming that internet services had been shut down across the country.
The opposition leader also claimed that several senior officials within his party had been arrested, including the Deputy President for the Western Region.
“Our leaders, including Deputy President for Western Region, arrested,” he stated.
According to Wine, conditions at polling stations deteriorated rapidly as opposition polling agents and supervisors were allegedly abducted or forcibly removed from voting centres.
“Many of our polling agents and supervisors abducted, and others chased off polling stations,” he said.
He further raised concerns over the failure of electoral technology, alleging that Biometric Voter Verification Kit (BVVK) machines had malfunctioned at polling units nationwide, a situation he warned could severely compromise the credibility of the election.
Calling for domestic resistance, Wine urged Ugandans to reject what he described as authoritarian rule.
“The people of Uganda must rise to the occasion and reject the criminal regime,” he wrote.
He also appealed to the international community, warning against recognising the outcome of the election under the prevailing circumstances.
“The world must never give any legitimacy to the regime of blood and shame,” he added, using the hashtag #FreeUgandaNow.
Uganda has a history of contested elections, with opposition parties frequently accusing the government of electoral fraud, repression, and the use of state power to silence dissent.
Meanwhile, comments made by Yiga Wamala, a Senior Presidential Adviser to President Yoweri Museveni, have further fueled controversy surrounding the election.
In a viral video seen by SaharaReporters, Wamala dismissed the relevance of voters and party agents remaining at polling stations, insisting that ballots would be counted electronically without public oversight.
“Vote and go home. You will not count the votes,” Wamala said, adding that voters would not witness the counting process.
He also suggested that access to vote collation centres would be restricted to candidates and a limited number of officials.
Wamala openly ruled out the possibility of an opposition victory, declaring that President Museveni would remain in power and that Bobi Wine would not be announced as the winner.
President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, is seeking another term in office amid increasing domestic and international scrutiny over democratic governance and electoral transparency in Uganda.
