Uganda's presidential election has been engulfed by deadly violence, with at least seven people killed as long-serving leader Yoweri Museveni looks set to extend his rule into a fifth decade. The polls, held on Thursday, have been marred by clashes and serious allegations of voter suppression from the opposition.
Security Forces Accused of "Massacre" in Butambala
The central town of Butambala became a flashpoint in the early hours of Friday. Police claim that machete-wielding "goons" supporting opposition leader Bobi Wine attacked a polling station and a police station around 3am. According to local police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe, security forces fired in self-defence, resulting in fatalities and 25 arrests.
However, this official narrative is fiercely disputed. MP Muwanga Kivumbi, a supporter of Bobi Wine, argues that those killed were unarmed and shot dead inside his house. He described the incident as a "massacre", claiming the death toll could be as high as ten.
"There were people inside the garage who were waiting for the results to celebrate my victory," Mr Kivumbi said. "They broke the front door and began shooting inside the garage. It was a massacre." The exact circumstances and final death toll remain unverified.
Kampala Resembles a War-Zone Amid Internet Blackout
Sky News Africa correspondent Yousra Elbagir reported from the capital, Kampala, describing a city that "feels like a war-zone". A full military deployment was visible, with snatch squads seen picking people up and bundling them into armoured trucks as votes were being counted.
Heavily armed security forces patrolled streets littered with debris, watching on as fires raged. The election took place under a government-imposed internet blackout, severely limiting communication and independent monitoring.
Preliminary results announced by the electoral commission show President Museveni heading for a landslide victory with more than 75% of the vote. His main rival, the former pop star turned politician Bobi Wine, trails on around 21%.
A Violent End to a Contested Campaign
The violence marks a brutal culmination of an election campaign already plagued by accusations of intimidation and suppression. Bobi Wine's party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), has alleged mass fraud. In a post on X late on Thursday, the party claimed the government was "effectively placing him under house arrest" after the polls closed—an assertion national police said they were unaware of.
President Museveni, who seized power in 1986 after a bloody civil war, told reporters after casting his ballot that he expected to win with 80% of the vote "if there's no cheating". His campaign slogan, "Protecting the gains", was displayed on billboards across Kampala even as the city descended into chaos.
The international community is now watching closely as vote counting continues, with the credibility of the entire electoral process under intense scrutiny following the day's deadly events.
