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Voting has begun in parts of Uganda, with President Yoweri Museveni seeking to extend his nearly four-decade hold on power, alongside an internet blackout and tight security around polling centres. News Central reports that at several polling units, voters were seen waiting patiently to cast their ballots while security personnel maintained order.
Museveni, 81, faces a challenge from opposition leader Bobi Wine, who has accused authorities of attempting to suppress voter turnout.
According to AFP, polling centres in parts of the country opened hours behind schedule, with election officials still setting up materials as voters waited. Ballot boxes were later deployed, and voting began after the delays.
The disruptions were largely caused by failures of biometric voter verification machines, with similar problems reported in both opposition and ruling party strongholds.
“We are seeing a delay in opening of the polling stations. There is failure of the kit that is meant to identify voters,” an election observer in the eastern city of Jinja told AFP.
A ruling party official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the issue was widespread.
“Some biometric machines are not working. I don’t know if it’s the internet,” the official said.
The delays followed a nationwide internet shutdown imposed by the government earlier in the week, raising concerns among voters and observers about the conduct of the election.
