Friday, March 29, 2024

Uganda counts votes after tense presidential election

Share

Polls have closed and vote counting is under way in Uganda’s tense presidential election that pits longtime President Yoweri Museveni against opposition frontrunner Bobi Wine, a pop star-turned-opposition leader.

The run-up to Thursday’s vote was plagued by the worst political violence in years, with more than 50 people killed by security forces amid crackdowns on opposition rallies, as well as the repeated intimidation and arrest of opposition figures. Police say their actions are necessary to ensure compliance with COVID-19 restrictions.

Musician-turned-lawmaker Bobi Wine looks to deny incumbent President Yoweri Museveni a sixth term.

On Tuesday, Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, claimed on Twitter that the army had raided his home and arrested his security guards. The event marked the latest in a series of arrests and violent attacks on Wine himself as well as his supporters, journalists and election officials in recent months.

“Such acts of impunity are all kicks of a dying horse,” the 38-year-old said, before imploring Museveni to explain the arrests of his campaign team, assistants and supporters.

Internet access has been cut off, and there are fears of unrest as security forces try to stop supporters of leading opposition challenger Bobi Wine from monitoring polling stations.

At polling stations in Kampala visited by Al Jazeera, voting began more than 60 minutes late after election materials did not arrive on time.

Museveni, who has wielded power since 1986, is seeking a sixth term against a stiff challenge from Bobi Wine, whose popularity among a youthful population has rattled the 76-year-old former rebel leader. Nine other challengers are also trying to unseat Museveni.

More than 18 million people have registered to take part in the polls. A candidate must win more than 50 percent to avoid a runoff vote. Parliamentary polls are also being held.

Posters of the two most popular candidates for Uganda’s Presidential election, incumbent President Yoweri Museveni (yellow) and Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, the pop star-turned-opposition leader, are seen along a street in Kampala, Uganda, on January 6, 2021.
SUMY SADURNI/AFP via Getty Images

37 COMMENTS

    • Power is a drug and you can get addicted. Museveni is good proof of this. in 1986 he gave a speech in which he said he couldn’t understand why anyone would want to be President forever. Here he is 35 years later blocking his country’s youth from taking over. If Uganda was now as developed as South Korea we would probably agree that he continues but his country is still languishing in Third World poverty and he doesn’t want anyone else to take over?? What kind of selfishness is this? The kind made in hell.

  1. We all know how this will pan out, M7 will be declared winner and there will be heavy police presence in the capital. I just hope another government which borders Zaimbabwe, Angola, DRC, Malawi, Mozambique and Botswana does not get any ideas, because we have seen the tankers this government has acquired and the massive building of houses for security wings.

    8
    3
  2. That kaponya as president, only in Uganda Africa. Useless George Weah is way better. These days anything can be president in Africa.
    I always ask Pilato to join presidential race, unfortunately Zambians umwenso.

    11
    4
  3. It is inevitable to lose elections when you base your entire campaign on “removing the dictator” without offering any solutions or ideas as to how you will deal with various issues in the country. Doesn’t this sound familiar to you here in Zambia? The upnd have no message apart from remove lungu because hh wants to feel presidency.

    9
    26
  4. 2021 Presidential election provisional results from 10,212 polling stations

    Presidential Candidate

    Party

    Tally

    Percentage (%)

    Amuriat Oboi Patrick

    Forum for Democratic Change (FDC)

    102,758

    3.55

    Kabuleta Kiiza Joseph

    Independent

    18,069

    0.62

    Kalembe Nancy Linda

    Independent

    14,769

    0.51

    Katumba John

    Independent

    10,861

    0.67

    Kyagulanyi S Robert aka Bobi Wine

    National Unity Platform (NUP)

    821,875

    28.36

    Nobert Mao

    Democratic Party (DP)

    23,666

    0.82

    Mayambala Willy

    Independent

    6,281

    0.22

    Mugisha Muntu G

    Alliance for National Transformation (ANT)

    20, 460

    0.71

    Mwesigye Fred

    Independent

    9,075

    0.31

    Tumukunde Henry K

    Independent

    17,530

    0.60

    Museveni T Kaguta

    National Resistance Movement (NRM)

    1,852,263

    63.92

  5. @Nostradamus the musician-turned-lawmaker Bobi Wine has more courage and passion than you will ever have.
    What have you done for your country?

    16
  6. "We either Decide to Gain our Freedom, or we will be Slaves forever. So the fear does not compare to the zeal." ~Bobi Wine, Uganda presidential candidate. "We either Decide to Gain our Freedom, or we will be Slaves forever. So the fear does not compare to the zeal." ~Bobi Wine, Uganda presidential candidate.

    85% of 3 regions voted for BOBI WINE according to the local radios and district electoral bodies and only 1 Region of western Uganda, Museveni divide with is opponents BOBI WINE

    5
    1
  7. M7 UYELELE UYOSHWELA KAFO. YOU HAVE BEEN A BAD EXAMPLE TO EMERGING AFRICAN LEADERS INCLUDING OUR OWN HERE IN ZAMBIA. YOU CAN’T RIG THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY UPON ORDINARY UGANDANS WHO HAVE BEARING THE BRUNT OF M7 MISRULE FOR 34 YRS BY ENSURING THAT BOB WINE WINS. WHEN BOBI WINS WE WILL WINE AND DINE!!

    6
    2
    • There’s nothing wrong with that. Noone is barred from the Presidency. There is a comedian who is a president right now in the Ukraine. There was an actor who became President of the United States in 1981. There is a Cricket player who is President of Pakistan, theres a footballer who is the president of Libya. And lest I forget, theres also a foo=l who has become a President of the US but people realized after one term that they don’t need anyone representing that sector in the White House. So if you wanna go for it do so my brother. .

    • And there was also a DJ President in Madagascar in 2010 and the Haitian President at that very period was a singer

  8. “Despite the irregularities, we secured a comfortable lead against Yoweri Museveni. I am confident that we defeated the dictator. I call on all Ugandans to reject the blackmail, stand up and claim their win”
    ~Bobi Wine, Uganda presidential candidate.
    #UgandaDecides

  9. “Even if Bobi Wine does not Win these elections, nature will resolve Museveni.. The Future is on the side of Bobi Wine.”
    ~Julius Malema

  10. May the best man win. Story izibika.

    Those that rush to celebrate always end up disappointed. We saw it happening here and will see it again in August.

    For me I remain quiet and do my job behind the scenes

    5
    11
  11. In Arica there’s only one way to kick a dictator out of power, and Uganda should be ready for that. #Bobiwine?

    • Daniel Monde kikikikiki HH won for himself a long time ago. It is the Zambian people to win or lose depending on their choice of a leader, dont get confused with names. I hope you get it. Look at how we celebrated Sata’s win, where are we performance-wise compared to RB’s time? Kikikikikiki

  12. Bob Wine can win the Elections thru a Popular vote but M7 will rig the Elections without a doubt. M7 has the Military Forces, Electoral Commission and the Civil Service on his side. All Electoral Institutions in Uganda are State Captured so it’s obvious M7 will rig himself back into Power. The writing is on the wall.

  13. Kaizer there is something to learn from this election in Uganda.Bobi wine was a rapper then turned politician.stood as member of parliament and won.I admire him for his identity which most of your so called Activist in zambia the likes of Pilato and one chella photographer lack but are instead UPND cadres.So bravo to Bobi wine for his courage and belief which has earned him the trust from the Majority of the youths of Uganda.Let this be a wake call for Zambian opposition leaders.What do they stand up for and who do they represent?

  14. The best way the Europeans and Americans can kill Africans is just leave us alone. Look at Somalia, the chaps have failed to rule themselves! Look at Eritrea, South Sudan and next failed state will be Uganda. Through the barrel of a gun he came and through the barrel of gun he will leave. Through an illegal national convention he came and through another illegal nation convention he will depart. After all life is just a vanity

    • Kaunda used to say “Those who rise by the ballot will fall by the ballot those who rise by the bullet will fall by the…..”.

  15. M7 said he cant lose these Elections with total control of all Electoral Institutions in Uganda. The violence and Election Rigging is an indication of what will happen in August 2021 in Zambia. ECL will rig those Elections and Retain Power. The Elections will be disputed but ECL just like M7 will rig the Elections by Hook or Crook. ECL has said in the past that there is no way he can loose Elections in Zambia with State Apparatus at his disposal. History will repeat itself if the Opposition is docile. The writing is on the wall.

  16. Uganda has set a pace for Africa. Those drunkard and senile brains that have been holding us captive should be sent into political Oblivion. Massive rigging happened overnight and these cannot be accepted. I trust Ugandans will stand together and do it Malawian style if all fails. That old fart has overstayed and has to go.

  17. When I watched the CNN interview featuring MU7 ….I knew that the old man cannot accept results he is totally out of touch with reality and surrounded himself with his family and people who will be retired instantly when Bobby wins….these chaps have so much to close.

  18. Life is projectile to the men and women who stand up to try. Stop being zombies who just support to intertain their minimal brains arts and culture. KZ is right .

    Get to first of all understand leadership then and only then would one wake up from slumber to contribute either negatively or positively.

    One day africa will unite .

  19. In Uganda no Opposition can come to Power thru the Ballot Paper. M7 maintains Power thru the Barrel of the Gun. No matter how popular Bob Wine might be M7 will never allow him to win those Elections. M7 controls all the Electoral Institutions and will never allow himself to loose any election in Uganda. ECL is taking some Notes on Rigging Elections from his Godfather M7 and is determined to retain Power in Zambia. PF has already manipulated the Voters Roll in their favour. No wonder PF is already preparing to limit the Number of Foreign Observers. PF can’t retain Power thru free,fair and credible Elections. The Opposition should brace up 4 a violent and disputed Election in August 2021. The writing is on the wall.

  20. Bobbie Wine can’t win this election since he is only popular to the town dwellers who are only 24% of the the people of Uganda.
    Museveni is more likely to win because of the rural population who still believe in his leadership , Bob Wine is only popular in urban population who are a small percentage of voters usually this is the mistake most opposition make they don’t consider village population they only focus on those who can read and write and those who are on face book and watching TV.
    Museveni is a house hold name to defeat him you must work extremely hard since his roots are in rural people who make up the largest chunk of voters who are 75% of the 45,000,000 and more

  21. Edgar Lungu is an honourable man n I don’t see him rig , he’ll will accept the will of the people ayi KZ..

    2
    1

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading