At least seven dead in Uganda as election violence erupts amid vote count

At least seven people were killed overnight in Uganda as vote counting continued following a tense presidential election held under an opposition crackdown and an internet shutdown, local authorities and opposition leaders said on Friday.

The violence erupted in the town of Butambala, about 55km (35 miles) southwest of the capital, Kampala, where both police and local opposition figures offered conflicting accounts of the incident.

Police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe said machete-wielding opposition “goons” organized by local Member of Parliament Muwanga Kivumbi attacked a police station and a vote-tallying centre.

“Security responded in self-defence because these people came in big numbers,” Tumushabe told Reuters, adding that 25 people were arrested following the clash.

Kivumbi, a lawmaker aligned with the opposition party led by singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, told Reuters the victims were killed around 3am (00:00 GMT) inside his house while they awaited results from the election for his parliamentary seat.

“They killed 10 people inside my house,” Kivumbi said. “There were people inside the garage who were waiting for the results to celebrate my victory.”

He described the attack as a “massacre,” claiming security forces broke down his front door and opened fire inside the garage.

The violence occurred as Uganda’s Electoral Commission announced that long-time President Yoweri Museveni had secured 76.25% of the vote, based on tallies from nearly half of all polling stations.

His main challenger, Bobi Wine, was reported to have won 19.85%, while the remaining votes were shared among six other candidates.

If confirmed, the results would hand Museveni a seventh term in office, extending his rule since 1986.

Bobi Wine’s party said he was placed under house arrest following Thursday’s election. Wine himself claimed military forces surrounded his home immediately after voting.

READ ALSO: Uganda appoints Michael Atingi-Ego as New Central Bank Governor

“After casting my ballot, the military deployed all around my home in order to place me under house arrest,” he wrote on X. “They do this because they are afraid of the people’s reaction after stealing their vote.”

Wine has alleged widespread fraud in the election, which was conducted amid an internet blackout, drawing criticism from the United Nations and international human rights organisations.

The UN human rights office warned last week that the election was being held amid “widespread repression and intimidation.”

During the campaign, Wine’s rallies were repeatedly disrupted by security forces, who fired tear gas and bullets, resulting in at least one death and hundreds of arrests. The government has defended the actions, saying they were responding to lawless behaviour.

Election day itself was marred by delays, with some polling stations opening up to four hours late due to “technical challenges.”

Recent political unrest in neighbouring Tanzania and Kenya has heightened fears of potential violence in Uganda, which has not experienced a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence from British colonial rule over 60 years ago.

Although Wine had urged supporters to protest during the election, there were no visible demonstrations during voting hours.

As vote counting continues, the international community remains watchful, amid rising concerns about the credibility and transparency of Uganda’s electoral process.