Uganda election as it happened: Museveni aiming to secure 5th term amid reports of violence

Polls have now closed in Uganda's presidential and parliamentary elections.

Delays in distributing voting equipment in a number of districts prompted the Electoral Commission to extend the poll deadline until 7pm local time (1600 GMT).

However, in 36 polling stations few voters managed to cast their ballots, and the commission said that polling centres in those regions will reopen on Friday 19 February.

There were reports of violence breaking out in some areas, but casualty figures remain unknown. Meanwhile, in the capital Kampala, main opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye was detained for several hours before being released. His party condemned the arrest.

President Yoweri Museveni's decision to block some social media sites 'for security reasons' on election day also came under a lot of criticism.

EXCLUSIVE: Criminal trespass charges 'an excuse', says FDC

Uganda opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye was allegedly 'arrested for trespassing on a military installation', according to his political party, which claims the alleged charges against the politician are a sham.

According to reports, Besigye and a number of his Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) supporters had earlier claimed they had exposed a house in Naguru, Kampala, as a vote-rigging centre, according to Kampala-based Al Jazeera correspondent Malcolm Webb.

Later in the evening, however, his political party confirmed the Besigye had been 'driven home' to Kasangati while authorities said the politician had been 'released without charges'.

Police spokesman Patrick Onyanga told local media police were filing a case against Besigye 'on criminal trespass', adding that the facility that Besigye suspected to be a rigging site "was a police communication centre".

While the FDC asked not to reveal the source who confirmed Besigye had initially been arrested 'fortrespassing a military installation, an FDC official exclusively told IBTimes UK the party would reject the charges.

"It's basically the same as telling him he has trespassed a diplomatic house, but we all know that was a vote-rigging centre. It's just a blanket of an excuse," Thomas Ddumba, toldIBTimes UK from Kampala.

"Because, if you do trespass military installations, there is a formal charge for that. But, the way the authorities go around that is by getting (driving) him back to his house, so there are no formalities." He added: "Legally, they can't say it that someone has been arrested, and that's why the authorities have said they just picked him up and dropped him at his house."

BREAKING: Uganda's main opposition presidential candidate Kizza Besigye has been 'driven home' to Kasangati, his political party has confirmed.

His political party earlier confirmed Besigye had been arrested by police in Kampala.

According to reports, Besigye and a number of his supporters had earlier claimed they had exposed a house in Naguru, Kampala, as a vote-rigging centre, according to Kampala-based Al Jazeera correspondent Malcolm Webb. Allegedly, when Besigye and his team knocked on the gate of the compound, the house's occupants ran out the block, but were stopped and found carrying police guns. Police arrested him after apparently refusing to open the gate to the alleged vote rigging centre.

"Kizza Besigye left Rukungiri around 11am . He went to Kiruhura and found the army ticking ballot papers, he took photos and asked them what they were doing then continued to Kampala," the FDC official earlier told IBTimes UK.

"Reaching Kampala he was taken to a place where ticking of ballots was taking place. He requested the police open the house, and in the process he got arrested."

Uganda's Electoral Commission (EC) has announced voting in 36 polling stations in Kampala and Kyebando will take place tomorrow (Friday 19 February) from 7am-4pm (local time).

The EC earlier announced it had suspended polling in 14 polling stations in Kampala - including in the Makindye Division, and another 22 polling stations in Wakiso in Kyebando.

EC chairperson, Badru Kiggundu, meanwhile said the commission "would like to congratulate all areas where voting has been conducted".

Reactions from world leaders to Uganda's social media blockage have started to pour in.

First to comment, the United States Ambassador in Uganda, Deborah R. Malac, has criticised the blocking of access to social media on election day, saying it was sending "the wrong message".

The United Nations (UN) has condemned the social media blackout.

Uganda's ‎Country Representative at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Uchenna Emelonye, said the world body was "very concerned by the social media blackout in Uganda today", in a statement posted on Soundcloud.

According to Emelonye's analysis, the blackout was an affront to freedom of expression and affected the democratic processes and "credibility of the elections".

Listen to her statement here:

Votes have now officially closed in Uganda - after an extention of the deadline in some districts where the polls were plagued by delays and alleged vote-rigging.

In incumbent President Yoweri Museveni's home polling station, preliminary results show he scored 726 votes, while main opposition candidate - who was arrested this afternoon - Kizza Besigye got 2. Other candidates failed to attract any voters, according to Daily Monitor.

BREAKING: Ugandan opposition presidential candidate Kizza Besigye has been arrested by police in Kampala, his political party has confirmed.

According to reports, Besigye and a number of his supporters had earlier claimed they had exposed a house in Naguru, Kampala, as a vote-rigging centre, according to Kampala-based Al Jazeera correspondent Malcolm Webb. Allegedly, when Besigye and his team knocked on the gate of the compound, the house's occupants ran out the block, but were stopped and found carrying police guns. Police arrested him after apparently refusing to open the gate to the alleged vote rigging centre.

An aide of the FDC told IBTimes UK Besigye had been arrested and confirmed "we don't know where he is". The FDC member, however, was unable to say at what time Besigye had been taken by police.

"Kizza Besigye left Rukungiri around 11am . He went to Kiruhura and found rgw army ticking ballot papers, he took photos and asked them what they were doing then continued to Kampala.
Reaching Kampala he was taken to a place where ticking of ballots was taking place. He requested the police open the house, and in the process he got arrested," an FDC official told IBTimes UK.

More to follow...

Nigeria's former president and Commonwealth election observer Olusegun Obasanjo has described the delays in delivering ballot papers to polling stations in Uganda as "absolutely inexcusable", the AFP news agency reports.

Obasanjo said the delays "do not inspire trust and confidence in the system and the process".

As reported by IBTimes UK, some polling stations voters waited for five hours before election materials was delivered.

Supporters of opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye have claimed they have exposed a house in Kampala as a vote rigging centre, according to Kampala-based Al Jazeera correspondent, Malcolm Webb.

Allegedly, when Besigye and his team knocked on the gate of the compound, the house's occupants ran out the block, but were stopped and found carrying police guns.

These allegations come just a day after an electoral observer told IBTimes UK the ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), had been bribing and intimidating members of the public to support incumbent president Yoweri Museveni in the run-up to the 18 February presidential elections.

While polls remain open in a number of districts, the majority of those who have already announced their results show opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye to be in the lead.

However, those provisional results thus far show incumbent President Yoweri Museveni trailing right behind Besigye in these districts - but he tops the ballot in others.

Find the list of provisional results here.

There have been scenes of jubilation in a number of districts of the capital Kampala after poll results were announced.

In Kagugube, crowds gathered to celebrate after opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye - who is running for the fourth time on the ticket of the largest opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) - "won by a landslide", according to Isabella Tugume, a reporter at NBS TV.

Voting at Kagugube ended at 16:00 (local time).

A voter, who had been waiting all morning and afternoon at his polling station in St.Henry Primary School in Kansanga has posted a video purposely showing voters who still had not cast their ballot at 17:11 (local time).

The voter from Kampala, Hashim Wasswa, who earlier confirmed "people revolted" and "refused to vote because it's late", later said the police was on site.

He alleged the voting materials "only arrived at 15:30 (local time)" - 30 minutes before the polls were due to close.

Kasanga is approximately a 15 minutes drive from the Electoral Commission in Kampala.

The Electororal Commission (EC) has announced voting in Wakiso and Kampala districts "will end at 7:00pm" (local time).

These areas received ballot papers after 2:00pm - less than two hours before polls were due to officially close.

Where to find Uganda's elections provisional results?

Some provisional results have started to trickle from polling stations where voters were able to cast their ballots.

Previsional results can be found on Kampala's 993FM radio twitter account.

New Vision newspaper has set up a page that you can use to track the provisional results.

Social media users have started sharing a parody of Uganda's MTN - which shut down its services earlier this morning.

The telecoms provider tweeted that the Ugandan Communications Commission had "directed MTN to disable all Social Media (and) Mobile Money services due to a threat to Public Order and Safety".

Despite the blockage preventing access to social media networks, chat apps and mobile money services, the hashtag '#UgandaDecides' has been trending as more users found ways to avoid the block by using internet proxies known as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

It is worth noting that the same tactics were used by Burundians in 2015 after the authorities requested a similar shutdown.

Disgruntled users are now sharing a photo-shopped image of MTN's logo - now EMPTYN- along with the hashtag #BringBackOurData to demand the operator enabled its social media and money services again.

Here is MTN's earlier tweet:

New videos have emerged online purportedly showing "angry and furious" residents running away from a polling station with a box "they claim had pre-ticked votes" before destroying the ballots located inside the box.

IBTimes UK could not confirm the location nor the veracity of the claims at the time of publishing.

At least six people have been injured during the Ugandan elections after a fight broke out between young supporters of the ruling party and supporters of the opposition party in Lubaga City, in Uganda's capital Kampala on 18 February, IBTimes UK can confirm.

One of the 41 short-term electoral observers (STOs) deployed by the African Union told IBTimes UK the observer mission had reported "scuffles between NRM and FDC supporters had left half a dozen injured, but no deaths reported". Lubaga City is located near Masaka Road in Kampala.

Dr Kizza Besigye's opposition party, Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), has emitted "concern" over the delays reported in a number of polling stations across the country, notably in Wakiso, Mukono, Jinja and Kampala districts.

In a statement sent to IBTimes UK, Wilberforce Kyambadde, the executive director of the FDC's campaign bureau blamed the Electoral Commission for the delays, which it said "weaken(ed) the spirit of Ugandans in particular areas who woke up very early to exercise their civic duty".

Kyambadde said: "These particular areas where voting has delayed are the easiest to reach by the Electoral Commission (EC) and therefore cannot have be due to technical reasons but a deliberate move to disenfranchise certain constituencies which are strongholds of FDC".

While the supporter warned these delays may "provoque people into some form of confrontation", Kyambadde urged FDC supporters to "protect your vote the best you can. Don't give up".

He also advised voters to remain at their polling stations until they are able to exercise their right to vote.

One of the 41 short-term electoral observers (STOs) deployed by the African Union, who is based in the Mulago District in the capital Kampala, told IBTimes UK he was concerned because "Museveni militants are now occupying nearly all the centre of town to dance their victory" while "elections are still under way and electors still try to go and vote".

According to this observer, members of his mission have asked leaders and representatives of these militants "to stop this sort of activity that can generate grave danger".

The militants have been "asked to stay calm until the proclamation of the complete results".

The Ugandan Electoral Commission has announced that 'election time has been extended to 7pm'.

However, this extension will only affect 'those polling stations that have not voted yet'.

Unofficial figures have emerged that at 16:00, only 40% of eligible voters had cast their votes.

Opposition figure Amama Mbabazi has asked voters who were unable to vote in the general elections to inform his party, Go Foward, about any issues.

He wrote on Twitter:

Hundreds of voters are still queuing at polling stations, according to witnesses, despite the 16:00 voting deadline.

Officially, polls in Uganda should now be closed (16:00 local time).

As voting is expected to start, more reports of irregularities are emerging - including voters using papers from exercise books to make ballot papers.

A number of Twitter users have also alleged voters "took papers from exercise books to make ballot papers".

A voter, who had been waiting all morning and afternoon at his polling station in St.Henry Primary School in Kansanga has described how the voting materials "only arrived at 15:30 (local time)" - 30 minutes before the polls were due to close.

The voter from Kampala, Hashim Wasswa, who confirmed "people revolted" and "refused to vote because it's late", added the police was on site.

Elsewhere, voters were still queueing with 10 minutes to go before closing time.

Incumbent Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who is the National Resistance Movement's (NRW) flag bearer, told voters at his polling station in Kaaro in Rushwere that his party "will obviously win".

While he acknowledged it was "illegal" to hold a press conference in a polling station, he delivered a quick speech in which he implored voters "to go home peacefully".

A Ugandan opposition movement, dubbed Free Uganda, has warned a defiance campaign is 'almost inevitable' after it claimed the delays in delivery of materials in some places may be 'a deliberate vote rigging technique' in the 18 February elections.

"Ugandans be warned: Museveni continues to rig an already rigged election," the coalition of opposition political organisations, said in a statement on Thursday (18 February). "Best to prepare for the national Defiance Campaign that is almost inevitable as Museveni prepares to fraudulently declare himself the winner."

The coalition describes itself as "the unifying platform for all patriotic and freedom-seeking Ugandans is being welcomed with jubilation by all Ugandan people within and outside Uganda."

The call comes as opposition candidate Kizza Besigye on Wednesday (February 17) said that he willlaunch a "defiance campaign" if there is evidence of fraud in the polls. "If we consider that this election is fraudulent to the extent that we reject the outcome, we shall do so," Besigye told Reuters.

Gunshots have allegedly been heard at a polling station in a a neighbourhood of Kampala.

According to witnesses, "gunshots were heard" after voters at Kyebando UMEA Kisaawe P/S polling station in Busiro East "burnt voting material".

In Kibuli, Kampala, meanwhile, voters were also seen burning material after "waiting seven hours".

Incumbent Yoweri Museveni, who is the National Resistance Movement's flag bearer, arrives at Kaaro polling station in Rushwere, where he is lining up to cast his vote.

Just over one hour and 15 minutes before polls close.

The Electoral Commissions has asked voters "to be patient".

Ugandans have been forced to use workarounds to access the services, after social media - such as What's App, Twitter and Facebook - and mobile money services were shut down on election day across the nation "for security reasons", according to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

While UCC head Godfrey Mutabazi told local media the block was introduced after a request from the Ugandan electoral commission, electoral commission spokesman Jotham Taremwa has told the NTV channel that he did not know of such an order.

Many social media users reacted to the news, describing the comments as being part of a "blame game", while others accused Taremwa of "lying with a straight face".

Despite the blockage preventing access to social media networks, chat apps and mobile money services, however, the hashtag '#UgandaDecides' has been trending as more users found ways to avoid the block by using internet proxies known as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

The Karamojong tribe, who are dubbed the 'warriors of northern Uganda', have cast their ballot in Kaabong in Karamoja - a part of Uganda famed for its isolation and difference.

Described by many as 'violent' and at times 'uncivilised', unlike most other Ugandans, many Karamojong steer clear from western-style clothes and instead wear a dress of a blanket-like shawl, often in red and black. The women wear intricate beadwork.

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Growing reports of angered crowds across a number of polling stations, where voting still has still not began.

A voter, Hashim Wasswa, posted this video from his polling station with the caption: "Tempers flaring at my Polling station - People asking why they still haven't voted".

According to Wasswa, his polling station has received the ballot papers, but the "transparent boxes haven't been delivered - So we will (wait) in line".

Opposition leader Amama Mbabazi has now cast his vote in the Kanungu District in Western Uganda after he landed in a private jet earlier this morning.

Following his vote, Amama Mbabazi said he "had been informed some stations started this afternoon".

"Please be patient and vote," he urged on Twitter.

Opposition leader, Amama Mbabazi, spoke of 'illegal information blackout' on his Facebook page, urging supporters to download Tunnelbear VPN to access most social media platforms.

Ugandans have been forced to use workarounds to access the services, after social media and mobile money services were shut down on election day across the nation "for security reasons", according to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC).

UCC head Godfrey Mutabazi told local media the block was introduced after a request from the Ugandan electoral commission.

NTV Uganda, a local broadcaster, said Mutabazi outlined a number of reasons for the unexpected shutdown - including the fact that "Mobile Money and social media were shut down because there was information that people were using these to bribe voters",

He said they were awaiting instructions from the electoral commission before turning the services back on.

Most presidential candidates have now cast their votes.

Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye, who is running for the fourth time on the ticket of the largest opposition party, the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), voted at Rwakabengo Health Centre III polling station in Rukungiri a small town west of capital Kampala.

The presidential hopeful was seen stopping for selfies with his supporters after casting his vote.

The Kween District in Eastern Uganda has postpones the election of District woman MP after the Electoral Commission delivered wrong symbols for the independent candidates, reports the Daily Monitor.

Meanwhile, vote for the Kyegegwa Woman MP was also called off over "missing party symbol for NRM candidate Kiiza Stella", local media reported.

Uganda's New Vision newspaper this morning reported that 80 people have been arrested for election crimes including what is describes as "voter bribery".

It says the suspects were were intercepted on Thursday morning in Bamukade Gardens in Kireka "distributing sugar, flour, salt and cash".

The local media quoted Siraje Bakaleke, the Kampala East Regional Police Commander, as saying the suspects would also be charged with "voter bribery, dangerous weapons, unlawful assembly".

Ugandans have posted pictures of themselves after having cast their votes with ink-stained thumbs using the hashtag '#IVoted'.

At Muyenga polling station, material has finally arrived, but local media report the absence of "pens and markers".

While voting has been under way in a peaceful atmosphere in most polling stations, voters at Kiruddu polling station in Buziga have boycotted the vote after they reported boxes arrived with broken seals.

They are reported to have said they would wait until issue is put right.

Local reports of material arriving at one polling station - more than five and a half hours late.

Samuel Ouga, an Amnesty International employee, said that "most of Entebbe, Bulenga and Mulago haven't received ballot papers yet. Less than 4hours left to vote."

There have been widespread reports of a lack of ballot materials and polling stations opening late.

One of the 41 short-term electoral observers (STOs) deployed by the African Union, who is based in the Masaka District near the capital Kampala, told IBTimes UK there have been "logistic problems" in some areas.

The observer described how the voting material "had arrived late", as voters waited outside polling stations. "Some remote areas have still not started voting, despite the fact that it's past mid-day (local time)," he added.

There were no reported incidents at his polling stations.

Meanwhile, the electoral commission has tweeted an apology, quoting chairperson Badru Kiggundu.

What you need to know about the vote

The 15,277,196 registered voters are expected to file at 28,010 polling stations across the country to choose a president and Member of Parliament for their respective constituencies.

Polls opened at 7am this morning (04:00 GMT) and voting ends at 4pm (13:00 GMT).

The Ugandan Electoral Commissioned clarified that if 4:00 pm finds voters in the queue, they will be entitled to cast their vote.

There are eight presidential candidates in the race - four of whom are sponsored by political parties, including main contenders President Yoweri Museveni, Dr Kizza Besigye, who heads the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), and Amama Mbabazi, who is running under the Go Forward banner.

Fear of violence is running high as 15 million Ugandans are heading to presidential and parliamentary elections, in which President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for 30 years, will be competing to win his fifth term in office under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag.

Facing Museveni in the today's polls are: Dr Kizza Besigye, leader of opposition party Forum for Democratic Change (FDC); and Amama Mbabazi, a former prime minister and founder of NRM, who is running under the GoForward banner after failing to win the NRM nomination from Museveni.

(Read more: Who are the main candidates running for president?).