Museveni leads in tense election marred by internet shutdown and voting interference

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled the country for 40 years, had an early lead Friday in a tense presidential election marred by an internet shutdown, voting delays and opposition allegations of “massive ballot stuffing” and detentions by security forces.

Provisional results from more than half of the polling stations tallied so far showed Museveni with more than 75% of the vote while his main challenger Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the musician-turned-opposition leader best known as Bobi Wine, had around 20%, according to the national electoral commission.

Activists protesting against the election results so far lit bonfires in the capital, Kampala, on Friday afternoon as the provisional results were being announced.

The 81-year-old Museveni has served the third-longest tenure of any African leader and is seeking to extend his rule into a fifth decade.

The aging president’s authority has become increasingly dependent on the military, which is led by his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Wine, who is calling for political change, said that his polling agents in rural areas were abducted before the voting started, undermining his efforts to prevent alleged electoral offenses such as ballot stuffing.

Wine was hoping to end Museveni's four-decade rule in an election during which the military was deployed and heavy security was posted outside Wine's house near Kampala, the Ugandan capital, after the vote.

Several reports allege that Bobi Wine had been taken in custody after a helicopter landed at his home on Friday. The police refuted the claims saying they were not aware of such instances and that they have not arrested Bobi Wine.

A police spokesman suggested heavy security deployment around Wine’s home was for his own security.

Several people were killed and others were injured in a violent incident in central Uganda that involved supporters of two parliamentary candidates, the police spokesman said. He said that more than 20 opposition supporters were arrested.

The security forces were a constant presence throughout the election campaign, and Wine said authorities followed him and harassed his supporters, using tear gas against them. He campaigned in a flak jacket and helmet due to his security fears.

Uganda has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence from British colonial rule in 1962.