Incumbent President in Uganda, Yoweri Museveni has held a commanding lead in the country’s presidential election, according to preliminary results released Friday.
With 81% of polling stations reporting, Museveni has secured approximately 74% of the vote, placing him far ahead of his main rival, singer-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, who has garnered about 23%.
The announcement of the lopsided results was swiftly met with allegations of fraud and a dramatic report concerning the opposition leader’s whereabouts.
Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party stated on social media that a military helicopter had landed at his compound in Kampala and “forcibly taken him away to an unknown destination.”
The claim was echoed by Wine’s son, who said both of his parents had been seized by the military.
However, verification of the incident proved difficult due to a widespread internet shutdown across the country. Local police told the BBC they were not aware of the incident, contradicting the family’s account.
Earlier on Friday, Wine had reported being placed under house arrest, with security forces surrounding his home. He had previously denounced the electoral process, calling it “the most fraudulent election in the history of Uganda.”
