Widespread delays hit Uganda election amid internet shutdown

Logistical problems have delayed voting in Uganda’s presidential and parliamentary elections in many parts of the country due to an internet outage.

The BBC observed growing frustration among voters queuing at some polling stations in the capital Kampala in the morning, although voting now appears to be underway in most areas.

Delays of up to four hours were blamed on failures of biometric identification kits, which some linked to the network outage, as well as a lack of equipment in some locations.

The election agency apologized for the “technical issues” and said officials were working to resolve them.

In the presidential race, Yoweri Museveni, 81, in power since 1986, is aiming for a seventh consecutive victory against Bobi Wine, a charismatic 43-year-old pop star.

Where voting took place, reports indicate that biometric machines used to verify voters’ identities are still malfunctioning in some areas.

Delays were also caused by voting materials and equipment not arriving on time at some polling stations.

“I’m angry because I haven’t voted yet. We’re supposed to start at seven, but so far we haven’t started. The ballot papers aren’t even here, I don’t even know what to say,” Kampala voter Kaweesi Ismail told the BBC.

Some people reportedly left polling stations without voting, saying they could not wait for the technical problems to be resolved.

The problems appear to have affected both areas considered pro-government and those considered opposition strongholds.

Voting in his home village of Rwakitura in the western Mbarara region, Museveni said he also faced difficulties.

“I put my thumbprint on the machine but it did not accept it. However, my face was instantly accepted by the machine. The machine is working,” he said.

Asked if he would accept the election result, the president replied: “This is one of the manipulations. We have to find out why, what was the problem?”

“We are currently verifying whether this was deliberate,” he added.

In an article on X, Wine said biometric machines “failed everywhere”, alleging widespread irregularities and the arrest of his agents as voting began.

Electoral chief Simon Byabakama ordered the use of the National Voter Register where biometric machines did not work.

The country’s law allows polling hours to be extended if protests disrupt the voting process, but the commission did not explicitly say whether polling hours would be extended.

Byabakama said all registered voters in the queue at 4:00 p.m. local time (1:00 p.m. GMT) would be allowed to vote.

The presidential vote is essentially a two-horse race between Museveni and Wine, but given that the president has won the previous six elections, analysts say he is likely to extend his term further.

Wine has promised to fight corruption and impose radical reforms, while Museveni says he is the only guarantor of stability and progress in the country.

The result of the presidential vote will be announced on Saturday around 4:00 p.m. local time (1:00 p.m. GMT), the electoral commission said.

The campaign period was marked by disruption of opposition activities: security forces were accused of assaulting and arresting Wine supporters.

Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke dismissed the complaints, accusing opposition supporters, particularly those belonging to Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party, of being disruptive.

Internet access was suspended on Tuesday, with the Uganda Communications Commission saying the shutdown was necessary to prevent misinformation, fraud and incitement to violence – a move condemned by the UN human rights office as “deeply worrying”.

The NUP rejected this explanation, accusing the regulator of trying to prevent the opposition from mobilizing and sharing evidence of electoral fraud. The party launched an offline vote monitoring app in the event of a power outage.

The app, called Bitchat, uses Bluetooth technology to share images of polling station results forms and voting data without internet access, according to Wine.

A former leader of a guerrilla army, Museveni benefited from two constitutional amendments – removing age and term limits – which allowed him to continue to run for office.

Wine, real name Robert Kyagulanyi, lost to the president in the 2021 election, although Wine denied the results, alleging fraud.

Alongside Museveni and Wine, six other presidential candidates are on the ballot this year.

Voters will also choose a new parliament, with 353 seats up for grabs.

For many of those voting Thursday, the economy is the key issue.

The majority of the population is under the age of 30, and although average income is rising steadily, there are not enough jobs for all the young people looking for work.

There are also concerns about poor infrastructure and disparities in access to quality education and healthcare.

During the election campaign, opposition supporters faced increasing harassment, including politically motivated arrests, according to the United Nations and Amnesty International.

Wine’s rallies, unlike Museveni’s, were disrupted by security forces.

Amnesty described the use of tear gas, pepper spray, beatings and other violence as “a brutal campaign of repression” ahead of the vote.

In addition, the head of Uganda’s electoral body told the BBC that he had received threats warning him against announcing certain results.

Additional reporting by Wedaeli Chibelushi

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