Uganda Elections: What we know so far

Ugandans went to the polls on Thursday, January 15 to elect their president and Members of Parliament in a hotly contested election.

With the government of incumbent president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni having switched off the internet and plunged the country into news darkness, here is what we know so far.

1. Museveni leading presidential contest:

President Museveni, defending his 40-year reign, is leading the election with the country’s election agency, reporting results from at least 60% of the polling stations.

According to the electoral agency’s report on Friday, January 16, Museveni was leading by 75% of the votes.

His closest rival, Bobi Wine, has garnered 21% of the votes so far counted.

• 12 killed, scores arrested

On Friday, reports emerged that at least 12 opposition supporters had been shot dead by police in the early morning hours of January 16.

There are conflicting reports on how the opposition supporters met their deaths with government claiming they had attacked a police station in Butambala but a local MP, Muwanga Kivumbi, claimed they had been killed inside his home.

About 25 others were arrested in the post-election violence.

• Bobi Wine ‘arrested’

Opposition Presidential candidate Bobi Wine told reporters on Friday that he had been placed under house arrest.

This is after a contingent of police officers surrounded his Kampala residence and others scaling his fence and erecting tents inside his compound.

The police argued that it was a security measure to protect him as he is a presidential candidate and deserves round-the-clock protection.

• School opening postponed        

The country’s education ministry has announced a change in the school academic calendar affecting all learning institutions.

Initially, schools were set to reopen for First Term on February 2 but now, they will resume learning on February 10.

The ministry said this was due to the uncertain nature of the outcome of the elections and the government has to take the security of learners seriously.

• No internet

Access to the internet has been prohibited, leave for essential services, across the country.

This was effected two days to the polls and the Communications Authority said the internet ban will remain on course indefinitely.

_{Photo credit: BBC}