Uganda was on edge as polls opened on Thursday, with President Yoweri Museveni expected to extend his 40-year rule amid an internet shutdown and a police crackdown on the opposition.
Issued on: 15/01/2026 - RFI
A woman uses a mobile phone as she walks past campaign posters of Yoweri Museveni, Uganda's President and presidential candidate of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), ahead of the general election in Kampala, Uganda, January 14, 2026. © Thomas Mukoya / REUTERS
Polling stations were slow to open, as normal in Uganda, but voting was underway shortly after 7am local time in at least one Kampala suburb.
But in several parts of Uganda stations were still not open almost two hours after voting was due to start, AFP journalists and local sources said Thursday.
AFP reporters in several parts of the capital Kampala and the border city of Jinja said voting had yet to begin, with reports that ballot papers had not been delivered and biometric machines used to check voters' identities were not working.
There were heavy police and army patrols in the border town of Jinja, another AFP team said.
Meanwhile, despite repeated promises that it would not do so, the government shut down the internet on Tuesday for an indefinite period to prevent the spread of "misinformation" and "incitement to violence".
The United Nations called the shutdown "deeply worrying".
'I will crush them'
Western countries have often given Museveni leeway, after he swallowed their demands for neoliberal reforms in the 1980s and made himself a useful partner in the US-led "war on terror" in the 2000s, especially through troop contributions to Somalia.
Many Ugandans still praise him as the man who ended the country's post-independence chaos and oversaw rapid economic growth, even if much was lost to a relentless string of massive corruption scandals.
"Forty years doesn't even matter, we need even more," said one supporter, Banura Oliver, 41, on her way to Museveni's final rally in Kampala.
The president struck a forceful tone, saying: "Go and vote. Anybody who wants to interfere with your freedom, I will crush them."
Many in Kampala were nervous as security forces beefed up their presence for election day.
"We will not talk about elections. You can ask anything but not that," said an accountant in his thirties, who did not give his name.
The police warned the vote was "not a justification for criminal acts" and has deployed newly hired "special constables" to enforce order.
Journalists were harassed and blocked from attending Museveni's rally.
Reporters Without Borders said local journalist Ssematimba Bwegiire lost consciousness after being electrocuted and pepper-sprayed by a security officer at a Wine rally.
Human Rights Watch has denounced the suspension of 10 NGOs, including election-monitoring organisations, and said the opposition had faced "brutal repression".
(With newswires)
Polling stations were slow to open, as normal in Uganda, but voting was underway shortly after 7am local time in at least one Kampala suburb.
But in several parts of Uganda stations were still not open almost two hours after voting was due to start, AFP journalists and local sources said Thursday.
AFP reporters in several parts of the capital Kampala and the border city of Jinja said voting had yet to begin, with reports that ballot papers had not been delivered and biometric machines used to check voters' identities were not working.
There were heavy police and army patrols in the border town of Jinja, another AFP team said.
Meanwhile, despite repeated promises that it would not do so, the government shut down the internet on Tuesday for an indefinite period to prevent the spread of "misinformation" and "incitement to violence".
The United Nations called the shutdown "deeply worrying".
'I will crush them'
Western countries have often given Museveni leeway, after he swallowed their demands for neoliberal reforms in the 1980s and made himself a useful partner in the US-led "war on terror" in the 2000s, especially through troop contributions to Somalia.
Many Ugandans still praise him as the man who ended the country's post-independence chaos and oversaw rapid economic growth, even if much was lost to a relentless string of massive corruption scandals.
"Forty years doesn't even matter, we need even more," said one supporter, Banura Oliver, 41, on her way to Museveni's final rally in Kampala.
The president struck a forceful tone, saying: "Go and vote. Anybody who wants to interfere with your freedom, I will crush them."
Many in Kampala were nervous as security forces beefed up their presence for election day.
"We will not talk about elections. You can ask anything but not that," said an accountant in his thirties, who did not give his name.
The police warned the vote was "not a justification for criminal acts" and has deployed newly hired "special constables" to enforce order.
Journalists were harassed and blocked from attending Museveni's rally.
Reporters Without Borders said local journalist Ssematimba Bwegiire lost consciousness after being electrocuted and pepper-sprayed by a security officer at a Wine rally.
Human Rights Watch has denounced the suspension of 10 NGOs, including election-monitoring organisations, and said the opposition had faced "brutal repression".
(With newswires)
'He represents a population desperate for change’, Bobi Wine’s lawyer tells RFI
Uganda's election on Thursday will see incumbent Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986, seeking a seventh mandate – at the age of 81, in a country where 55 percent of the population is under 20. Supporters of his main rival, Bobi Wine, say he embodies hope for change. Robert Amsterdam, Wine's international legal representative, told RFI of the difficulties he has faced in a campaign fraught with fear and repression.
Issued on: 14/01/2026 - RFI
Presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, addresses the crowd at a rally ahead of the election, Kampala, 12 January. REUTERS - Abubaker Lubowa
By: Melissa Chemam
RFI: For the opposition, and in particular for Bobi Wine, this electoral campaign has been very difficult. How would you describe it?
Robert Amsterdam: Let's be really clear: this is a man who faces death each day. I was first brought in years ago as his lawyer when Museveni tried to kill Bobi by shooting into his car. Bobi was then brutally tortured and held in jail, in a town called Arua, Uganda.
And from that time, Bobi's life has been in danger. And, unlike many, he did not flee his country. He has stood his ground, fighting for Ugandans every day. He is representative of a population that is overwhelmingly under the age of 18 and desperate for change. He is the symbol of change, of youth, not only in Uganda but in Africa. He is an important and emblematic symbol of the fight of this generation to be heard, and for the dinosaurs of previous generations to step out of the way.
The world should start being run by people who have to live in its future, not by those who created a pretty horrendous past in Uganda.
Bobi Wine's fight for democracy in Uganda continues on the big screen
Many human rights organisations have criticised the repression and brutality they say has been seen during this electoral campaign. In light of this, how do you expect the election itself will go?
Of course, it's going to impact the vote. The authorities have cut off the internet. They've divided Kampala into 14 military districts. There's a massive, unprecedented mobilisation of the military. It's absurd and obscene.
I've already had calls from people within the government, who are highly confident of the outcome and are already reaching out to me because they're worried about what the response will be if there is another stolen election. So the government is gearing up to steal another election and deprive Uganda of its vote.
Uganda orders internet blackout ahead of presidential elections
Are there legal mechanisms in place that could ensure Ugandan voters get the result they deserve?
I also represent the opposition in Tanzania, where thousands [of people] were brutally murdered in another stolen election in this part of Africa. So I would be lying if I expressed great confidence in the [possibility of removing] a military dictator.
But at the same time, before a vote, however jaded it may be, I'm not going to make these comments. I'm going to pray for Bobi's safety and for the safety of those with the courage to vote for him and against Museveni and his dynasty. Because he's going to try to put his son in after he's finished.
Do you think Ugandans can see a future where politicians like Wine can emerge? In Uganda and beyond?
He's an inspirational figure, as is Tundu Lissu in Tanzania, who's now in solitary confinement, after being shot 16 times in a prior election. I think these martyrs – and Bobi Wine is a martyr, having suffered through torture and false imprisonment – are heroes of real democracy, not failed leaders and tired policies. These are men of vision who are trying to bring their people out of desperate circumstances.
Uganda police surround opposition leader's party HQ ahead of protests
What is your advice for those parties who may have to wait months, if not years, to be able to represent their voters?
The first thing we have to do is condemn the African Union for living in the past, for making corrupt pacts with unqualified autocrats. We need somewhere in Africa to have a moral stance, and the African Union needs to be a light – not a dim reminder of the past.
And we have great political figures in parts of Africa who are doing their best. Some of them I've come to know through a life in Africa. I'm privileged to act for the Democratic Republic of Congo. And there's just a tremendous amount of inequality and despair that we need to turn around. And all of us who have invested parts of our lives in Africa, we need to not let another Ugandan election be stolen. We need to raise our voices.
Bobi Wine has promised there will be protests if the election is stolen. But can we be confident that people are going to be safe if that's the case?
Absolutely not. There's no confidence. You have a military that's corrupt and out of control. People have every legitimate right to fear for their lives, in a country that has no claim to democracy and no claim to rule of law when it comes to elections.
After 40 years of the same ruler, is change possible in Uganda?
I will never bet against a popular vote, no matter how hijacked I fear an election can be. So let's wait and see. My hopes and prayers are with the people of Uganda in this fateful 48 hours.
By: Melissa Chemam
RFI: For the opposition, and in particular for Bobi Wine, this electoral campaign has been very difficult. How would you describe it?
Robert Amsterdam: Let's be really clear: this is a man who faces death each day. I was first brought in years ago as his lawyer when Museveni tried to kill Bobi by shooting into his car. Bobi was then brutally tortured and held in jail, in a town called Arua, Uganda.
And from that time, Bobi's life has been in danger. And, unlike many, he did not flee his country. He has stood his ground, fighting for Ugandans every day. He is representative of a population that is overwhelmingly under the age of 18 and desperate for change. He is the symbol of change, of youth, not only in Uganda but in Africa. He is an important and emblematic symbol of the fight of this generation to be heard, and for the dinosaurs of previous generations to step out of the way.
The world should start being run by people who have to live in its future, not by those who created a pretty horrendous past in Uganda.
Bobi Wine's fight for democracy in Uganda continues on the big screen
Many human rights organisations have criticised the repression and brutality they say has been seen during this electoral campaign. In light of this, how do you expect the election itself will go?
Of course, it's going to impact the vote. The authorities have cut off the internet. They've divided Kampala into 14 military districts. There's a massive, unprecedented mobilisation of the military. It's absurd and obscene.
I've already had calls from people within the government, who are highly confident of the outcome and are already reaching out to me because they're worried about what the response will be if there is another stolen election. So the government is gearing up to steal another election and deprive Uganda of its vote.
Uganda orders internet blackout ahead of presidential elections
Are there legal mechanisms in place that could ensure Ugandan voters get the result they deserve?
I also represent the opposition in Tanzania, where thousands [of people] were brutally murdered in another stolen election in this part of Africa. So I would be lying if I expressed great confidence in the [possibility of removing] a military dictator.
But at the same time, before a vote, however jaded it may be, I'm not going to make these comments. I'm going to pray for Bobi's safety and for the safety of those with the courage to vote for him and against Museveni and his dynasty. Because he's going to try to put his son in after he's finished.
Do you think Ugandans can see a future where politicians like Wine can emerge? In Uganda and beyond?
He's an inspirational figure, as is Tundu Lissu in Tanzania, who's now in solitary confinement, after being shot 16 times in a prior election. I think these martyrs – and Bobi Wine is a martyr, having suffered through torture and false imprisonment – are heroes of real democracy, not failed leaders and tired policies. These are men of vision who are trying to bring their people out of desperate circumstances.
Uganda police surround opposition leader's party HQ ahead of protests
What is your advice for those parties who may have to wait months, if not years, to be able to represent their voters?
The first thing we have to do is condemn the African Union for living in the past, for making corrupt pacts with unqualified autocrats. We need somewhere in Africa to have a moral stance, and the African Union needs to be a light – not a dim reminder of the past.
And we have great political figures in parts of Africa who are doing their best. Some of them I've come to know through a life in Africa. I'm privileged to act for the Democratic Republic of Congo. And there's just a tremendous amount of inequality and despair that we need to turn around. And all of us who have invested parts of our lives in Africa, we need to not let another Ugandan election be stolen. We need to raise our voices.
Bobi Wine has promised there will be protests if the election is stolen. But can we be confident that people are going to be safe if that's the case?
Absolutely not. There's no confidence. You have a military that's corrupt and out of control. People have every legitimate right to fear for their lives, in a country that has no claim to democracy and no claim to rule of law when it comes to elections.
After 40 years of the same ruler, is change possible in Uganda?
I will never bet against a popular vote, no matter how hijacked I fear an election can be. So let's wait and see. My hopes and prayers are with the people of Uganda in this fateful 48 hours.
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