At least seven people were killed overnight in central Uganda following national elections expected to extend President Yoweri Museveni’s nearly four-decade rule, police confirmed on Friday.
Preliminary results released by the Electoral Commission showed Museveni leading with more than 75 percent of votes counted from 59 percent of polling stations, according to Reuters. His closest challenger, musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine, secured about 21 percent, while six other candidates shared the remaining votes.
Although voting on Thursday was largely peaceful, tensions rose overnight in Butambala town, about 55 kilometres southwest of Kampala. The campaign period had been marked by violent clashes at opposition rallies and what the United Nations described as widespread repression and intimidation.
Police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe said machete-wielding opposition supporters, allegedly organised by local Member of Parliament Muwanga Kivumbi, attacked a police station and a vote-tallying centre. She said security forces responded in self-defence, adding that 25 suspects were arrested.
“Security responded in self-defence because these people came in big numbers. Police fired in self-defence,” Tumushabe was quoted as saying.
However, Kivumbi rejected the police account, alleging that the victims were shot inside his residence around 3 a.m. while awaiting the announcement of his parliamentary election results. He claimed that security operatives broke into his home and opened fire on supporters gathered to celebrate his victory.
“They killed 10 people inside my house. There were people inside the garage waiting to celebrate my victory. They broke the front door and began shooting. It was a massacre,” Kivumbi said.
He maintained that the killings were not the result of clashes and said security forces had earlier dispersed crowds outside his home. Tumushabe said she was not aware of any incident at the lawmaker’s residence, noting that the house is located close to the police station.
The election has been seen as a critical test of the 81-year-old Museveni’s grip on power and Uganda’s ability to avoid post-election unrest witnessed in neighbouring countries. After voting, Museveni said he expected to win about 80 percent of the vote “if there’s no cheating.”
Bobi Wine, however, alleged widespread electoral fraud, describing the process as flawed. The vote was conducted under an internet shutdown imposed by authorities, who said the measure was to curb misinformation. Wine called on his supporters to protest the outcome.
Late on Thursday, Wine’s National Unity Platform claimed that military and police personnel had surrounded the opposition leader’s home in Kampala, effectively placing him under house arrest. National police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said he was not aware of any restrictions on Wine’s movement.
