KAMPALA – As Uganda embarked on counting votes from its highly charged presidential election, conducted the previous day, the nation grappled with an internet blackout, voting hold-ups, and grievances from the opposition. The main opposition figure raised alarms over the detention of his polling representatives by authorities.

Opposition candidate Bobi Wine reported being trapped at home on Thursday, citing that several of his polling agents in rural regions were seized before the commencement of voting. This, he argued, obstructed his efforts to combat electoral malpractices like ballot tampering.

Wine aims to unseat President Yoweri Museveni, who has held power for nearly 40 years. The election saw military presence, and heavy security was stationed outside Wine’s residence near Kampala following the voting process.

In a post on X on Thursday, the artist-turned-politician claimed that a key official from his party, overseeing the western region, had been taken into custody. He further alleged widespread incidents of ballot stuffing.

Western Uganda, known as a bastion of support for the ruling party, poses a challenge for the opposition, especially when their agents are absent during the vote tallying process.

To try to improve his chances of winning, Wine had urged his supporters to “protect the vote” by having witnesses document alleged offenses at polling stations, in addition to deploying official polling agents.

Wine faced similar setbacks when he first ran for president five years ago. Museveni took 58% of the vote, while Wine got 35%, according to official results. Wine said at the time that the election had been rigged in favor of Museveni, who has spoken disparagingly of his rival.

Museveni, after voting on Thursday, said the opposition had infiltrated the 2021 election and defended the use of biometric machines as a way of securing the vote in this election.

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.

Uganda has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence from British colonial rule six decades ago.