Tensions ran high in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, as police fired tear gas at protesters and extinguished fires lit in response to the electoral commission’s announcement of early results showing incumbent President Yoweri Museveni leading the presidential ballot.
According to the electoral commission, Museveni secured 76% of the votes from partial results, with opposition leader Bobi Wine trailing behind with 20%. The announcement sparked violent clashes between security forces and opposition supporters, with reports of at least 10 people killed in one incident.
Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) claimed he was effectively under house arrest, with security forces surrounding his home in Kampala. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke dismissed these claims, stating Wine was a “person of interest” and the security deployment was for his own safety.
The election has been marred by allegations of fraud and violence, with Wine accusing the government of manipulating the results. The internet was shut down earlier in the week, a move condemned by the UN Human Rights Office as “deeply worrying”.
Museveni, 81, has been in power for four decades, and his victory would extend his rule further. Wine, a 43-year-old pop star-turned-politician, has promised to tackle corruption and introduce sweeping reforms if elected.
The final results are expected to be announced by Saturday, January 17, 2026, with analysts predicting Museveni’s likely re-election.
Source: BBC, Reuters
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Author: Korkor Anumu
