Uganda's acting President, Yoweri Museveni, is heading towards another term in office. After about half of the votes have been counted, the 81-year-old, who has governed the country since 1986, leads with around 60 percent. His strongest challenger, the musician and politician Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, currently has about 35 percent according to the official figures from the Electoral Commission.
Kyagulanyi immediately rejected these results after they were announced and spoke of 'massive fraud.' He claims the election was manipulated to secure Museveni's rule. Shortly after his statements, Kyagulanyi announced that security forces had surrounded his property near the capital Kampala and that he was effectively under house arrest. The military justified the presence in front of his house as a security measure to prevent unrest.
International observers and human rights organizations expressed concern beforehand about the repressive environment surrounding the election. The election campaign was marked by violence, arrests of opposition supporters, and a temporary shutdown of the internet. The government denies all accusations of manipulation and emphasizes that the voting process was lawful. The final election result is expected in the coming days.
