KAMPALA – On Saturday, Ugandan police refuted claims circulating about the arrest of the leading opposition candidate in the country’s recent high-stakes election. They labeled such reports as “deceitful and inciteful,” urging the populace to maintain calm as the nation anticipates the official results of the presidential election.

Uganda conducted its general election on Thursday amidst a nationwide internet blackout that has persisted for four days. The country saw a significant military presence, and outbreaks of unrest occurred in response to parliamentary election outcomes in several regions.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, is vying for a seventh term and currently dominates the provisional results with over 70% of the vote. His chief rival, Bobi Wine, a musician-turned-politician whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, trails with 20%. Wine has dismissed these results as “fake,” urging his supporters to do the same.

Authorities clarified on Saturday that Wine is “not under arrest,” contradicting claims made by his National Unity Platform party. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke stated that while Wine is free to leave his residence, there is controlled access to others attempting to visit, to prevent the premises from being used to incite unrest.

“It should not surprise you when we have a pickup or two near the residence of Kyagulanyi,” Rusoke remarked.

Ugandan electoral officials are set to announce the final presidential results on Saturday, as constitutionally required. The chairperson of the national electoral commission said Friday that everything was on course to announce the final result by the end of the day Saturday.

The voting was marred by delays due to the late delivery of materials to polling stations after opening time and the failure of some biometric machines.

President Museveni said he agreed with the electoral commission’s plan to revert to paper voter registration records, but Wine alleged fraud, claiming that there was “massive ballot stuffing” and that his party’s polling agents were abducted to give an unfair advantage to the ruling party.

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.

Wine wrote Thursday on X that he was unable to leave his house, and on Friday his party wrote that he had been arrested and taken away in an army helicopter.

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

Veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, remains in prison after he was charged with treason in February 2025.