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Uganda Votes Under Internet Blackout as Delays Snarl Presidential Election

Officials told polling staff to fall back on paper registers after technical problems and outages slowed the process.

Overview

  • Many polling stations opened hours late, with the electoral commission citing technical issues and instructing use of paper voter lists.
  • A multi-day government-ordered internet shutdown continued during voting, officially justified as a response to misinformation and security risks, and it disrupted services such as banking.
  • Biometric identification machines malfunctioned at some sites, producing long lines and frustration among voters in parts of Kampala.
  • President Yoweri Museveni, 81, seeks a seventh term against seven challengers including Bobi Wine, with 21.6 million registered voters eligible to cast ballots.
  • Polls were scheduled to close at 4 p.m. local time, and the constitution requires results within 48 hours, with heavy security reported nationwide.