Uganda: Bobi Wine Warns of Protests Over Alleged Election Rigging
NUP flagbearer warns of nationwide action amid polling delays, technical failures, and rising tensions
- Bobi Wine says Ugandans will protest if President Yoweri Museveni is declared winner through a rigged process.
- Voting was disrupted in several areas due to biometric verification failures and an overnight internet shutdown
- Museveni, seeking a seventh term, urged vigilance by electoral agents and defended the use of electronic voting systems.
Presidential candidate of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Robert Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has warned that his party will lead nationwide protests if Uganda’s ongoing general election is rigged.
His comments come amid reports of delays and technical challenges at polling stations across the country, heightening political tension. Uganda’s long-serving president, Yoweri Museveni, is seeking a seventh consecutive term in the election, facing Bobi Wine and six other candidates.
The polls have already been overshadowed by incidents of violence and the arrest of opposition supporters, raising concerns about the credibility of the process.
According to international media reports, many polling stations in the capital, Kampala, had not opened by 8:00 a.m., despite polls officially scheduled to begin at 7:00 a.m. Electoral officials attributed the delays to malfunctions in biometric voter identification machines, while others pointed to the impact of an internet and network shutdown that began the previous night.
Speaking to journalists, Bobi Wine said Ugandans must be ready to act if the election is not conducted transparently. He maintained that his campaign, which has drawn strong support from young voters, is confident of victory.
“We have said it many times: if Yoweri Museveni rigs the election, we shall call for protests. We have put the people of Uganda on notice. We are not just calling for protests; we are calling on Ugandans to take charge. We are definitely winning the election,” he said.
President Museveni, after casting his vote, urged electoral agents to remain alert throughout the process. He also defended the use of electronic systems, citing past concerns about vote protection.
“The agents need to be vigilant, but many times they are not. In the last election, the opposition received 2.7 million votes. That is why this time we say, let’s go electronic,” Museveni stated.
