Uganda Votes in Tense Presidential Election

Voting has begun in Uganda despite a nationwide internet shutdown and several delays at polling stations. President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country for nearly 40 years, is running for another term at age 81. He faces seven opponents, including opposition candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, a musician turned politician who is campaigning for political change.

In addition to the presidency, voters are choosing more than 500 members of parliament. The country has about 21.6 million registered voters out of a population of roughly 45 million.

The government shut down internet services days before the election, saying the move was meant to prevent misinformation and violence. However, the United Nations described the shutdown as “deeply worrying.”

On election morning, some polling stations in Kampala and Jinja opened late due to missing ballot papers and malfunctioning biometric machines used to verify voters. Meanwhile, security forces increased their presence in the capital to maintain order during the vote.

Source: Newstimehub