Yoweri Museveni faces Bobi Wine in presidential ballot

[ad_1] Sammy Awami , BBC Africa, Kampala and

Wycliffe Muia

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/3027/live/577394d0-f1e6-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/3027/live/577394d0-f1e6-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3027/live/577394d0-f1e6-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/3027/live/577394d0-f1e6-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/3027/live/577394d0-f1e6-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/3027/live/577394d0-f1e6-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/3027/live/577394d0-f1e6-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/3027/live/577394d0-f1e6-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="AFP via Getty Images A voter in a black headscarf places her vote in a ballot box." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> AFP through Getty Photographs Greater than 21 million Ugandans have registered to vote

Polls have opened in Uganda's presidential and parliamentary elections, although voting has been disrupted by logistical delays in lots of elements of the nation amid an web shutdown.

Within the morning, the BBC noticed rising frustration amongst voters queuing at some polling stations within the capital, Kampala, the place voting had but to begin.

The delays have been blamed on failures of biometric identification kits, which some have linked to the community outage, in addition to a scarcity of kit in some locations.

The electoral company has apologised for the "technical glitches" and mentioned officers have been working to resolve them.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f961/live/aa196b10-f1e6-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f961/live/aa196b10-f1e6-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f961/live/aa196b10-f1e6-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f961/live/aa196b10-f1e6-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f961/live/aa196b10-f1e6-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f961/live/aa196b10-f1e6-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f961/live/aa196b10-f1e6-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f961/live/aa196b10-f1e6-11f0-b5f7-49f0357294ff.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters A Ugandan polling agent talks to a group of female voters at a polling station." class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Reuters Voters in elements of the capital, Kampala, discovered polling stations nonetheless not open a hour after voting was on account of begin

Within the presidential race, Yoweri Museveni, 81, in energy since 1986, is in search of a seventh successive victory as he faces a problem from a charismatic pop star.

The place voting has been happening, there are experiences that the biometric machines used to confirm voters' identities are nonetheless malfunctioning in some areas.

"Some biometric machines are usually not working. I do not know if it is the web," a ruling celebration official instructed AFP information company.

Delays have additionally been brought on by polling supplies and gear failing to reach at some stations on time.

"We arrived early on the polling station, however the voting gear has not but arrived," a voter in Kampala instructed state-run UBC TV.

Chatting with journalists on Thursday, electoral chief Simon Byabakama ordered the usage of the nationwide voters' register the place biometric machines didn't perform.

"It's the main obligation of the Electoral Fee to make sure that no citizen is disenfranchised on account of machine failure," mentioned Byabakama.

The issues seem like each affecting areas which are seen as pro-government in addition to areas which are seen as pro-opposition.

The nation's regulation permits polling hours to be prolonged if challenges disrupt the voting course of.

"Polling stations will stay open till all registered voters within the queue by 4:00 pm have forged their votes," added Byabakama.

The presidential ballot is basically a two-horse race between Museveni and singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, however given the president has gained the six earlier elections, analysts say he's more likely to additional lengthen his time in energy.

Wine, 43, has promised to deal with corruption and impose sweeping reforms, whereas Museveni argues he's the only guarantor of stability and progress within the nation.

The marketing campaign interval was marred by the disruption of opposition actions - safety forces have been accused of assaulting and detaining Wine's supporters.

Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke dismissed these complaints, accusing opposition supporters, significantly these belonging to Wine's Nationwide Unity Platform (NUP) celebration, of being disruptive.

Web entry had been suspended forward of voting day, with Uganda's Communications Fee saying a blackout was vital to stop misinformation, fraud and the incitement of violence - a transfer condemned by the UN human rights workplace as "deeply worrying".

The NUP has rejected this rationalization, accusing the regulator of making an attempt to cease the opposition from mobilising and sharing proof of election fraud.

The former leader of a guerrilla army, Museveni has benefitted from two constitutional amendments - eradicating age and time period limits - which have allowed him to maintain operating for workplace.

Wine, actual identify Robert Kyagulanyi, misplaced to the president within the 2021 elections. In response to the electoral fee, he gained 35% of the vote in comparison with Museveni's 59%, though Wine dismissed the outcomes, alleging fraud.

Alongside Museveni and Wine, six different presidential candidates are on this yr's poll papers.

Voters may even selected a brand new parliament, with 353 seats up for grabs.

For a lot of of these voting on Thursday, the financial system is the important thing situation.

Nearly all of the inhabitants is beneath 30 and though the typical revenue is steadily rising, there are usually not sufficient jobs for all of the younger folks in search of work.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/213a/live/6fffdc20-f1e1-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/213a/live/6fffdc20-f1e1-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/213a/live/6fffdc20-f1e1-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/213a/live/6fffdc20-f1e1-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/213a/live/6fffdc20-f1e1-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/213a/live/6fffdc20-f1e1-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/213a/live/6fffdc20-f1e1-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/213a/live/6fffdc20-f1e1-11f0-b373-d7bde4e9f067.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters A polling agent scans a box containing electoral materials with a Biometric Voter Verification Machine (BVVM) at a polling station" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Reuters Biometric machines meant to confirm voters' id have malfunctioned in some areas

There are additionally considerations about poor infrastructure and disparities in entry to high quality training and healthcare.

Throughout the marketing campaign interval, opposition supporters have confronted escalating harassment, together with arrest on politically motivated expenses, in keeping with each the United Nations and Amnesty Worldwide.

Wine's rallies, in contrast to these of Museveni, have been disrupted by safety forces.

Amnesty has described the usage of tear fuel, pepper spray, beatings and different violent acts as "a brutal marketing campaign of repression" forward of the vote.

As well as, the head of Uganda's electoral body told the BBC he has received threats warning him against declaring certain results .

"Some folks say in the event you do not declare so-and-so as president, you will note. I inform them that I'm not within the enterprise of donating votes," mentioned Simon Byabakama, vowing that solely the voters would determine who gained the election.

The 2021 elections have been additionally characterised by violence - dozens of individuals have been killed in protests and the security forces were responsible for at least some of these deaths , a BBC investigation discovered.

Since Saturday, safety has been heightened in Kampala, Uganda's capital metropolis.

Officers have been marching in formation and conducting patrols, whereas armoured automobiles have been stationed at varied areas.

Some Kampala residents have travelled to rural areas, saying they consider it's safer there in the course of the election interval.

"As a result of Ugandan elections are sometimes violent, I made a decision to re-register my polling centre in my residence village," one man instructed the BBC. He wished to stay nameless.

"I am glad I made that call, as a result of as you may see now, there's a heavy and intimidating safety presence within the metropolis. So whereas I'll nonetheless vote in my village, I'm additionally staying away from this safety scare."

Polls are on account of shut at 16:00 native time (13:00 GMT) on Thursday, though anybody within the queue presently can be allowed to vote.

The results of the presidential vote can be introduced by the identical time on Saturday, the electoral fee has mentioned.

Extra reporting by Wedaeli Chibelushi

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/f1ac/live/64e28130-f132-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/f1ac/live/64e28130-f132-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f1ac/live/64e28130-f132-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/f1ac/live/64e28130-f132-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/f1ac/live/64e28130-f132-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/f1ac/live/64e28130-f132-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/f1ac/live/64e28130-f132-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/f1ac/live/64e28130-f132-11f0-a422-4ba8a094a8fa.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="BBC election graphics" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0a19/live/7c722dc0-089d-11ef-b9d8-4f52aebe147d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images/BBC A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa" class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> Getty Photographs/BBC [ad_2] Source link