Uganda: Bobi Wine under house arrest, President Museveni leads vote count

 

Bobi Wine under house arrest in Uganda as President Museveni leads vote count

First results have just been shared this Friday morning in Kampala, showing that Veteran President Yoweri Museveni holds a commanding lead. His main challenger, Bobi Wine, is second, but also under effective house arrest, according to his party. All analysts and observers expected swift results with such an outcome, and more repression of the opposition.

Photo: Reuters

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Melissa Chemam

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The 81-year-old President, who has been ruling Uganda since he seized power in 1986, is looking for what his party calls a decisive victory. 

The first results were announced by the electoral commission early this Friday morning after Thursday's elections and show Museveni with at least 76 percent of the vote based on tallies from nearly half of polling stations.

Wine trailed with 19.85 percent, with the remaining vote split among six other candidates.

Wine, whose legal name is Robert Kyagulanyi, had called on his supporters on Thursday to protest, though there has been no sign of demonstrations so far.

The final results of the presidential and parliamentary elections are due by 2am GMT on Saturday.

House arrest

"The military and police have surrounded the residence of President Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, effectively placing him and his wife under house arrest," his party, the National Unity Platform wrote on X late Thursday.

"Security officers have unlawfully jumped over the perimeter fence and are now erecting tents within his compound," it added.

The popular music star-turned-politician has emerged as the main opponent to Museveni in recent years, and had run in the last election in 2021. 

He alleged massive fraud during these general elections, which were held under an internet blackout, following a campaign marred by violence.

Museveni had told reporters after casting his ballot that he expected to win with 80 percent of the vote "if there's no cheating".

He has repeatedly been accused of "brutal repression" of the opposition in the run-up to the vote, by national and international NGOs, including Amnesty International, and his government imposed an internet blackout earlier this week.

Succession worries

Election day on Thursday was marred by significant technical problems. The biometric machines used to confirm voters' identities malfunctioned notably, including when Museveni himself voted, and some ballot papers were undelivered for several hours in many areas.

There was also a heavy security presence across the country on election day.

Analysts view the election as a foregone conclusion since Museveni, an 81-year-old former guerrilla fighter, has total control over the state and security apparatus and has ruthlessly crushed any challenger during his four-decade rule.

African affairs expert Jeffrey Smith, of the pro-democracy think tank Vanguard Africa told me that this outcome was to be expected and that the main worries for Ugandans now are further repression in an ageing aitocratic regime and Museveni's succession.

If the results are confirmed, Museveni will start a seventh term in office, and he already said on multiple occasion that he wished his own son, military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, to become his successor.

The United Nations rights office said last week that the elections were taking place in an environment marked by "widespread repression and intimidation" against the opposition.

 

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