Uganda’s long serving President Yoweri Museveni has taken a strong early lead in provisional results from Thursday’s presidential election, according to figures released by the country’s electoral agency. The announcement comes after a highly charged campaign period marked by violence, restrictions on opposition activity and a nationwide internet shutdown that raised concerns about transparency and civil liberties.
Preliminary results announced on Friday morning show Museveni securing about 76 percent of the vote based on returns from roughly 45 percent of polling stations across the country. Opposition leader Bobi Wine, a popular musician turned politician who is contesting the presidency for the second time, is trailing with approximately 20 percent. Several other candidates are also in the race, but have so far captured only marginal shares of the vote.
The election is widely seen as a critical test of Museveni’s grip on power. At 81, he is seeking a seventh term that would extend his rule to nearly four decades, making him one of Africa’s longest serving leaders. Many Ugandans, particularly younger voters, have never known another president. While Museveni and his supporters argue that continuity has brought stability and economic progress, critics say his prolonged rule has entrenched corruption, weakened institutions and narrowed democratic space.
Bobi Wine has rejected the provisional results, alleging “massive” electoral fraud during the vote. He claims the process was compromised by intimidation, arrests of opposition supporters and the internet blackout imposed by authorities on polling day. Although Wine has not yet presented documentary evidence to support his allegations, his statements echo longstanding concerns raised by civil society groups and international observers about the conduct of elections in Uganda.
The government has defended the shutdown of internet and mobile services, saying the measures were necessary to prevent misinformation, disinformation and threats to national security. Security forces were heavily deployed in major cities and around polling stations, a presence authorities described as essential to maintaining peace. Opposition figures, however, argue that the security deployment was designed to intimidate voters and suppress dissent.
As vote counting continues, attention is turning to how the remaining results will be handled and whether the process will be accepted by all sides. The electoral commission has said it will declare final results in line with the law, insisting that only the will of the voters will determine the outcome. With tensions still high and trust in institutions deeply divided, the coming days are likely to be critical for Uganda’s political stability and democratic future.
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