Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was placed under house arrest on Friday, a day after national elections in which early official results show President Yoweri Museveni holding a commanding lead as he seeks to extend his nearly four-decade rule.
With roughly a quarter of ballots counted, the Electoral Commission of Uganda reported Museveni on 76 percent of the vote, far ahead of Wine. Final presidential and parliamentary results are expected by early Saturday.
The vote followed a tense and heavily restricted campaign period marked by an internet shutdown, a measure increasingly used by Ugandan authorities during elections and criticized by rights groups as an attempt to curb dissent and limit opposition mobilization.
Museveni, who came to power in 1986 and was once celebrated as a reformist leader, now faces mounting accusations from critics of governing through repression. Opposition figures and civil society organizations allege arrests, torture and political violence targeting government critics in the run-up to the polls.
Despite the climate of fear, resistance has continued to grow, particularly among Uganda’s youthful population. Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old former pop star turned politician, has emerged as the face of that movement, rallying young voters with calls for democratic change and an end to entrenched rule, often at significant personal risk.
Election day itself was marred by logistical problems, including malfunctioning biometric voter identification machines and delayed ballot deliveries in several districts. The opposition said the irregularities further undermined confidence in the process and reinforced long-standing concerns about the credibility of elections under Museveni’s government.
Details surrounding Wine’s house arrest were not immediately disclosed by authorities, but opposition allies said security forces surrounded his residence, restricting his movement and access to supporters.
While official results are still pending, many Ugandans say the outcome already appears predetermined. Even so, calls for political change continue to resonate, underscoring deep divisions in the country as Museveni moves closer to securing another term in power.
