Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine said he was placed under house arrest on Friday, a day after national elections in which early official results showed President Yoweri Museveni with a commanding lead as he seeks to extend his nearly four-decade rule.
Museveni, who has governed Uganda since 1986, was credited with 76.25 per cent of the vote after about a quarter of ballots had been counted, according to the Electoral Commission. Wine, 43, a popular musician-turned-politician, was placed second with 19.85 per cent. Final results from the presidential and parliamentary elections are expected by 0200 GMT on Saturday.
The vote followed a tense campaign period marked by accusations of “brutal repression” of the opposition. Authorities also imposed an internet blackout this week, limiting access to social media and messaging platforms.
In a series of posts on X, Wine rejected the provisional results and accused the Electoral Commission chairman, Simon Byabakama, of announcing figures without transparency. “IGNORE the fake results being announced by Byabakama,” Wine wrote, claiming that his party’s agents had demanded to know the source of the figures without receiving a clear response. “The PEOPLE OF UGANDA will have the final say on this nonsense.”
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, also alleged that security forces surrounded his residence shortly after he voted on Thursday. “Yesterday, after casting my ballot, the military deployed all around my home in order to place me under house arrest,” he said, adding that security personnel entered his compound and restricted movement in and out of the house. “This ain’t strength. They do this out of fear for the people they have offended by committing so many atrocities against them.”
The opposition leader further claimed that violence was directed at senior members of his party, alleging that supporters were killed during an attack on the home of his deputy president for Buganda, Muwanga Kivumbi. He said other regional party leaders were abducted or assaulted, accusing the government of acting out of fear of public backlash.
Election day itself was marred by logistical and technical challenges. In many areas, biometric machines used to verify voters malfunctioned, while ballot papers were delivered several hours late, delaying voting and fuelling frustration among voters and observers.
The Ugandan government has not immediately responded to Wine’s allegations. Museveni and his allies have consistently denied accusations of repression, insisting the elections were conducted in line with the law.
As the country awaits the final results, tensions remain high amid concerns about the credibility of the process and the potential for unrest following the announcement of the outcome.
