In a tweet shared on X on Thursday, the opposition leader accused authorities of orchestrating what he described as a coordinated clampdown on the electoral process and opposition figures.
Uganda’s main opposition candidate, Bobi Wine, has alleged widespread electoral malpractice, arrests and a nationwide internet shutdown on Election Day.
In a tweet shared on X on Thursday, the opposition leader accused authorities of orchestrating what he described as a coordinated clampdown on the electoral process and opposition figures.
“The world needs to know what is happening in Uganda on election day,” Wine wrote, alleging “massive ballot stuffing reported everywhere,” while lamenting that internet had been “switched off”.
He further claimed that key opposition officials had been targeted, stating, “Our leaders, including Deputy President for Western Region, arrested.”
According to the opposition candidate, the situation at polling units deteriorated rapidly as election officials and agents were allegedly forced out.
“Many of our polling agents and supervisors abducted, and others chased off polling stations,” he said.
Wine also raised concerns over the functionality of electoral technology, alleging that “BVVK machines have failed everywhere,” a development that could significantly undermine the credibility of the voting process.
Calling for both domestic action, the opposition figure urged citizens to resist what he described as authoritarian rule. “The PEOPLE OF UGANDA MUST RISE TO THE OCCASION AND REJECT THE CRIMINAL REGIME,” he wrote on his X handle on Thursday, Election Day.
He also appealed to the global community, insisting, “THE WORLD MUST NEVER GIVE ANY LEGITIMACY TO THE REGIME OF BLOOD AND SHAME.”
Wine ended the statement with the hashtag “#FreeUgandaNow.”
Uganda has a long history of disputed elections, with opposition parties frequently accusing the government of repression, electoral fraud and the use of state power to silence dissent.
Meanwhile, a senior aide to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Yiga Wamala, had declared that the country’s long-serving leader would not lose power through the ballot.
In a viral video seen by SaharaReporters, Wamala, who serves as a Senior Presidential Adviser, dismissed the relevance of citizens remaining at polling units, insisting that votes would not be counted by voters or party agents.
“We don’t have a mandate to remain at the polling station, you’ll be there like a dormant, people. Vote and go home. You will not count the votes,” Wamala said.
He further claimed that voters would not even see the ballots being counted, stating, “You will not see even the votes you are going to count. Their machines are going to count the votes. So what are you going to keep keeping?”
Wamala also suggested that only a limited number of people would be allowed at collation centres, saying, “For us, we shall vote and remain there and vote. What are you going to protect? At the Tariff Center, we shall only allow two people. The candidate and the other two people.”
The presidential aide openly ruled out the possibility of an opposition victory, declaring, “Don’t even think a day that we are going to announce Bobi Wine.”