Ugandans participated in elections on Thursday amidst an internet blackout and significant delays at polling stations. The vote saw President Yoweri Museveni, who has governed for nearly four decades, seeking to extend his rule. Technical difficulties with newly introduced biometric voting machines, intended to combat voter fraud, caused widespread disruptions.
By midmorning, voter turnout was low, with long queues forming at polling stations in Kampala and other locations. Ssenyondwa Martha, a voter in Kampala, stated, "I am ready to wait. We came here to vote," after arriving at her polling station around sunrise.
The Electoral Commission announced that all of Uganda's over 50,000 polling stations would switch to paper verification for voter identification for the remainder of the day, according to spokesman Julius Mucunguzi.
Seven candidates are challenging Museveni in this election. His primary opponent is Bobi Wine, formerly a pop star whose legal name is Robert Kyagulanyi.
The election takes place against a backdrop of restricted internet access, a measure implemented by authorities. The introduction of biometric voting machines was intended to modernize the electoral process and prevent fraud. However, the technical problems encountered on election day raised concerns about the system's readiness and effectiveness. The switch to paper verification aimed to ensure that all eligible voters could participate despite the technological challenges. The outcome of the election remains to be seen as vote counting begins.
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