Uganda election violence
At least seven people lost their lives in violence that erupted overnight in central Uganda, according to police reports on Friday. This unrest followed national elections that seem poised to extend veteran President Yoweri Museveni’s rule into a fifth decade.
The electoral commission’s results revealed that Museveni secured over 75% of the votes in Thursday’s presidential election, based on counts from 59% of polling stations. His main rival, the popular singer Bobi Wine, lagged behind with around 21%, while the remaining votes were divided among six other candidates.
Despite a campaign overshadowed by clashes at opposition rallies and what the United Nations described as widespread repression and intimidation, the voting itself went off without a hitch on Thursday.
However, violence flared up overnight in the town of Butambala, located about 55 km (35 miles) southwest of the capital, Kampala. A police spokesperson and a local member of parliament provided differing accounts of the situation.
Local police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe reported that a group of machete-wielding opposition “goons,” allegedly organized by local MP Muwanga Kivumbi, attacked a police station and a vote-tallying center.
“Security had to respond in self-defense because they came in large numbers. The police fired in self-defense,” she explained to Reuters, noting that 25 individuals were arrested in the incident.
On the other hand, Kivumbi told Reuters that the victims were killed around 3 a.m. (midnight GMT) inside his home, where they were anxiously waiting for the election results for his parliamentary seat.
“They killed 10 people inside my house,” he recounted. “There were people in the garage who were waiting to celebrate my victory.”
They smashed through the front door and started firing shots inside the garage. It was a scene of utter chaos.
He mentioned that security forces had previously broken up crowds outside, but he challenged the police’s claim that the fatalities happened during confrontations between the two groups.
Tumushabe, the police spokesperson, stated she was unaware of any incident at Kivumbi’s residence, which she noted was near the police station.
Reuters couldn’t immediately verify the details surrounding the violence.
The election is being viewed as a crucial test of 81-year-old Museveni’s political clout and his ability to steer clear of the kind of turmoil that has shaken neighboring countries like Tanzania and Kenya.
After casting his vote on Thursday, Museveni told reporters he anticipated winning around 80% of the votes “if there’s no cheating involved.”
Wine has accused the authorities of widespread fraud during the election, which took place under an internet blackout that officials claimed was necessary to curb “misinformation.” He urged his supporters to take to the streets in protest.
On Thursday night, Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party posted on their X account that military and police forces had surrounded Wine’s home in Kampala, effectively putting him under house arrest.
However, national police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke informed Reuters that he was unaware of any such house arrest of Wine.
Uganda election violence
