Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine was placed under house arrest on Friday, a day after elections in which early results showed President Yoweri Museveni firmly ahead as he seeks to extend his four-decade rule.
With around 25 percent of votes counted, the Electoral Commission reported Museveni leading with 76 percent, far ahead of Wine.
The election came after a tense campaign, during which the government imposed internet shutdowns, a move critics say aimed to stifle dissent. Museveni, once celebrated as a liberator, is now accused of governing with an iron grip, with reports of arrests, torture, and political violence against opponents.
At the center of growing resistance is Bobi Wine, the 43-year-old former pop star, whose call for change has energized young Ugandans despite the personal risks he faces.
Election day was marred by technical failures, including malfunctioning biometric machines and delayed ballot deliveries in several areas, heightening frustration among opposition supporters.
Final presidential and parliamentary results are expected by early Saturday, but for many Ugandans, the election’s outcome already seems clear, even as calls for political change gain momentum.
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