Saturday, 17 January 2026
By Staff Correspondent, The Pearl of Africa News
Kampala, Uganda
Uganda’s January 15 general elections unfolded under an unprecedented cloud of controversy, violence, and secrecy, prompting widespread criticism from opposition leaders, civil society observers, and citizens who argue the vote has turned into what many now describe as a general election circus under General Y.K Museveni.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in power for nearly forty years, stood for a highly contentious seventh term amid a nationwide internet shutdown, arrests of opposition figures, and mounting allegations of vote manipulation across multiple districts. The events surrounding polling day and the subsequent tallying process have reignited deep concerns about Uganda’s democratic trajectory.
Internet Blackout Before the Vote
Hours before voting began, Ugandan authorities cut internet access nationwide, effectively shutting down social media, messaging platforms, and independent digital monitoring systems. Two local rights organizations were also ordered to suspend their election observation work.
Analysts say the blackout severely limited transparency and made it difficult to independently verify reports emerging from polling stations.
“When the internet goes dark during elections, accountability disappears with it,” said a Kampala-based election observer.
Electoral Commission Under Scrutiny
Further controversy followed when Electoral Commission Chairman Simon Byabakama began releasing preliminary results without identifying the districts from which they originated. Journalists repeatedly pressed him for clarification, but he declined to disclose specific locations tied to the figures.
The refusal fueled speculation that selective reporting was being used to shape public perception of the outcome.
“Transparency is the backbone of credible elections,” a media representative remarked. “Without source data, numbers lose legitimacy.”
Siege at Bobi Wine’s Residence
Opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, reported being placed under military house arrest immediately after casting his ballot. Security forces allegedly jumped over his perimeter fence and sealed off the property, preventing entry and exit.
Electricity to the residence was reportedly cut and the electric fence destroyed. His private security guards were violently assaulted, leaving the home in complete darkness.
“This is not strength. It is fear of the people whose voices they have stolen,” Kyagulanyi said before communications were lost.
The blackout made independent verification difficult. Police later stated they were unaware of claims that Kyagulanyi had been forcibly removed from his home by helicopter to an undisclosed location.
Abductions of Opposition Leaders
The National Unity Platform (NUP) reported that Vice Presidents Dr. Lina Zedriga and Jolly Tukamushaba were violently abducted by military personnel while coordinating regional election operations. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
The party further alleged that more than 20 parliamentary and local government candidates had been detained indefinitely ahead of the vote.
Deadly Violence Across the Country
Election-related unrest turned fatal in several districts. Security forces were accused of using lethal force against civilians protesting disputed results.
Police confirmed that at least 12 people were shot dead in Butambala, Luweero, and Kalungu. Opposition sources claim more than 60 people were killed nationwide on polling day alone.
“Voting centres have become battlegrounds instead of spaces of civic duty,” a civil society activist said.
Kampala Central Vote Dispute
NUP Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya described dramatic irregularities in the Kampala Central MP race. He said opposition tallies showed strong leads across 17 of 20 parishes despite widespread ballot stuffing and violence at polling stations.
However, the Returning Officer later announced over 3,000 votes for NRM candidate Minsa Kabanda from All Saints polling stations near State House, alongside thousands from Summit View military polling centres.
Opposition protests were ignored, effectively overturning the race.
“The people voted. The system rewrote the outcome,” Rubongoya stated.
Allegations of Coercion and Bribery
Reports also emerged alleging that Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa approached detained candidates with financial inducements to withdraw from races or pledge loyalty to the ruling party.
Political analysts say such claims, if verified, represent an erosion of electoral integrity and separation of powers.
A Democracy Under Pressure
The elections have highlighted longstanding criticisms that Uganda’s institutions — the judiciary, legislature, security forces, and Electoral Commission — have been weakened and politicized to sustain the ruling establishment.
Observers warn that conducting elections under internet blackouts, military deployment, and widespread arrests undermines public trust and destabilizes governance.
“This is the performance of democracy without its substance,” said a governance scholar in Kampala.
Regional and International Implications
The crisis has sparked calls for stronger intervention from continental and international bodies to uphold electoral norms and human rights standards.
Critics argue that silence from regional institutions has emboldened authoritarian practices across Africa.
“When leaders suppress opponents and manipulate fear to stay in power, the entire region pays the price,” an East African policy analyst noted.
A Nation Watching and Waiting
As Uganda awaits the final presidential declaration, the atmosphere remains tense, with opposition supporters demanding accountability and the government maintaining heavy security deployments in major urban centres.
For many citizens, the events surrounding January 15 have reinforced the perception that Uganda’s elections are no longer contests of ideas, but carefully managed displays of control.
“Ugandans showed up to choose their leaders,” one voter said in downtown Kampala. “What followed looked nothing like choice.”
The unfolding aftermath now places Uganda at another defining crossroads — one where credibility, legitimacy, and the future of democratic governance hang in the balance.
