Election Day Delays and Technical Failures Some polling stations opened four hours late after the 7 a.m. start, as biometric voter‑identification machines malfunctioned and officials resorted to paper registration to keep voting on schedule [1]. Voting was slated to close at 4 p.m., with the electoral commission obligated to release results within 48 hours [1]. The country’s 21.6 million registered voters faced a disrupted start but were allowed to cast ballots once stations opened [1][2].

Incumbent President Museveni Pursues Seventh Term President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, is running for a seventh term that would extend his rule to nearly five decades [2]. He faces seven challengers, most prominently musician‑turned‑politician Bobi Wine, while veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye remains imprisoned on treason charges [1]. Museveni’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the army chief, draws scrutiny as a potential heir, fueling concerns about dynastic succession [2].

Internet Shutdown Implemented as Pre‑Vote Control Measure Less than 48 hours before polls opened, the Uganda Communications Commission ordered a nationwide internet blackout and halted new SIM registrations, citing misinformation, electoral fraud, and the risk of violence [2]. Critics argue the shutdown undermines transparency, disrupts banking and daily life, and serves as a political tactic [1][2]. The restriction remained in place throughout voting day, limiting real‑time reporting from polling stations [1][2].

Security Crackdown and Opposition Allegations of Violence Troops were deployed in Kampala and other hotspots to deter unrest, while the UN rights office warned of widespread repression, including abductions and disappearances of opposition supporters [2]. Bobi Wine claimed at least three of his supporters were killed during campaign events and accused the military of overt interference in the election [2]. His National Unity Platform urged supporters to stay within 20 meters of polling stations to monitor the vote count and deter rigging [2].