Polls have opened in Uganda's presidential and parliamentary election, although voting has been fraught with logistical delays across the nation amid an internet shutdown.
At 08:00 local time (05:00 GMT), many polling stations in the capital, Kampala, remained unprepared for voting even an hour after the scheduled start time. The delays have been attributed to failures in biometric identification kits, which some speculate are linked to the network outage.
In the presidential race, 81-year-old Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power for nearly four decades, seeks a seventh term against the popular artist-turned-politician, Bobi Wine.
Reports indicate that some biometric machines designed to verify voter identities are malfunctioning, with voters expressing frustration over delays caused by polling materials not arriving on time. A ruling party official commented, Some biometric machines are not working. I don't know if it's the internet.
The election landscape is marked by a two-horse race between Museveni and Wine. The latter has promised significant reforms and anti-corruption measures, while Museveni maintains that he is the only guarantee of stability in Uganda.
The campaign period has been marred by security forces allegedly disrupting opposition activities, with accusations of harassment against Wine's supporters. Internet access was suspended before voting day to purportedly prevent misinformation and violence, a decision heavily criticized by human rights organizations.
Concerns over historical electoral violence loom large, especially as citizens react to an increased security presence in Kampala. Some voters have even relocated to rural areas for safety during the election period.
Polling is set to conclude at 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT), with results expected two days later.
