Ugandans vote in tense election as Museveni seeks seventh term

Ugandans headed to the polls on Thursday in one of the country's most tense elections, with President Yoweri Museveni seeking a seventh term through the National Resistance Movement.

The two-horse race is between the 81-year-old incumbent and musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu, 43, also known as Bobi Wine, who is banking on the youthful population to get him to the helm of the East African nation.

Alongside the two frontrunners, 21.7 million registered voters spread across 50,739 polling stations will have an opportunity to pick six other presidential candidates to lead the country for the next five years.

During the campaign, Museveni cast himself as the sole guarantor of stability and progress in Uganda while Wine, who leads the National Unity Platform, has promised to tackle corruption and impose sweeping reforms.

In his first presidential bid in 2021, Wine finished second with 35 percent of the vote, compared with Museveni's 59 percent. Wine, however, rejected the outcome, alleging widespread fraud.

Ugandans will also choose a new Parliament, with 353 constituency seats and 146 District Woman Representative seats up for grabs, alongside a wide range of local government positions and councilors.

This comes amid the suspension of internet access ahead of voting day, as Uganda's Communications Commission said the blackout was necessary to prevent misinformation, fraud and the incitement of violence.

Polls are due to close at 4 pm on Thursday, although the electoral commission has indicated that anyone in the queue at this time will be allowed to cast their votes.

The results of the presidential vote are expected to be announced within about 48 hours after polling closes.

victor@chinadailyafrica.com