Museveni Acknowledges Voting Problems As Technical Glitches Disrupt Uganda Poll
Politics Updated: 15 January 2026 20:12 EAT
Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni casting his vote earlier today
Uganda’s presidential and parliamentary elections were on Thursday marred by widespread technical challenges, with several polling stations opening late due to failures of biometric voter verification machines. In some areas, voters waited for hours as officials struggled to activate the devices meant to authenticate voters before ballots were issued.
President Yoweri Museveni confirmed that the technical problems affected even senior voters, acknowledging that he personally experienced difficulties while casting his ballot. He stated that the malfunctioning systems raised concerns that required urgent investigation to establish what went wrong during the voting process.
The Electoral Commission said the failures were linked to incomplete configuration of some biometric kits and logistical gaps during deployment. Officials instructed polling clerks to resort to manual voter registers where the machines failed, insisting that the fallback measures were intended to ensure no eligible voter was turned away.
Voting took place under a nationwide internet blackout imposed ahead of the polls, restricting access to social media platforms and mobile data services. Authorities defended the shutdown as a security measure to curb misinformation and maintain public order, while critics argued it limited transparency and real-time reporting of electoral events.
Security presence across the country remained heavy throughout the day, with police and military officers deployed at polling centres, major roads and urban neighbourhoods. The heightened security followed weeks of political tension and arrests of opposition supporters, contributing to a tightly controlled election environment.
Opposition leaders cited the technical disruptions and communication restrictions as evidence of an uneven playing field. They maintained that the delays and system failures risked suppressing voter turnout, particularly in urban areas regarded as opposition strongholds.
Several civil society groups also raised concerns over logistical shortcomings, including delayed delivery of election materials in some constituencies. Observers noted that while voting eventually proceeded in most areas, the early setbacks undermined confidence in the efficiency of the process.
As counting gets underway, domestic and international observers are closely monitoring the tabulation of results amid calls for transparency. The Electoral Commission has said final results will be announced within the legally prescribed timeframe, as debate continues over the overall credibility of the election.
Tags: Editor's Pick Museveni Signs Media Kenya Limited Signsmedia Signstvkenya Yoweri Museveni Elections
Share this article
FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD