Ugandans voted in a tense national election on Thursday after an often violent campaign and internet shutdown, with President Yoweri Museveni seeking to extend his rule into a fifth decade.
Museveni told reporters after casting his ballot in western Uganda that he expected to win 80% of the vote “if there’s no cheating”, dismissing the prospect of an upset victory by popular singer Bobi Wine.
The election is widely seen as a test of the 81-year-old leader’s political strength and ability to avoid the kind of unrest that has rocked neighbours Tanzania and Kenya as speculation mounts about his eventual succession.
He has campaigned on a slogan of “protecting the gains”, vowing to maintain peace and lift Uganda into middle-income status.
Wine, who is 43 and nicknamed the “Ghetto President” for his humble origins, has appealed to young people angry about scarce economic opportunities in a country where the average age is just over 16.
Voting took place in the capital Kampala amid a heavy police presence. Some polling stations did not open on time because biometric voter verification machines were not working. Museveni said the cause of this was being looked into.
Casting his ballot in the Kasangati township, Ronald Tenywa, a 45-year-old university researcher, complained that political leaders “cling on for a long time”.
“If we vote for someone who cares, things will be better for Uganda,” he said, without specifying for whom he was voting.
The authorities cut internet access across the country on Tuesday to curb what they called misinformation about the election. Many Ugandans turned to an offline messaging app launched by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.
Security forces have repeatedly opened fire at Wine’s campaign events, killing at least one person and arresting hundreds of his supporters. Museveni’s government has said the security forces’ actions were a justified response to what it called lawless conduct by opposition supporters.