At least seven killed overnight in Uganda after tense presidential election

At least seven people have been killed overnight in Uganda, local authorities say, as vote-counting continues after a tense presidential election held amid an opposition crackdown and internet shutdown.

Violence broke out in the town of Butambala, about 55km (35 miles) southwest of the capital, Kampala, a police spokesperson and a member of parliament from the area said on Friday.

Local police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe said machete-wielding opposition “goons” organised by local MP Muwanga Kivumbi attacked a police station and vote-tallying centre.

“Security responded in self-defence because these people came in big numbers. Police fired in self-defence,” Tumushabe told the Reuters news agency, adding that 25 people were arrested.

But Kivumbi, a lawmaker with the opposition party led by singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, told Reuters the victims were killed at about 3am (00:00 GMT) inside his house as they awaited the results from the election for his parliamentary seat to be announced.

“They killed 10 people inside my house,” Kivumbi said. “There were people inside the garage who were waiting for the results to celebrate my victory.

“They broke the front door and began shooting inside the garage. It was a massacre.”

Al Jazeera has been unable to independently verify the claims.

The violence came as Uganda’s Electoral Commission said on Friday that the country’s longtime president, Yoweri Museveni, had taken 76.25 percent of the vote, according to tallies from nearly half of all polling stations.

Bobi Wine, Museveni’s main challenger, had won 19.85 percent, according to the commission, while the remaining votes were split among six other candidates.

Bobi Wine’s party said he had been placed under house arrest following Thursday’s election.

“After casting my ballot, the military deployed all around my home in order to place me under house arrest,” Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, wrote on X.

“They do this because they are afraid of the people’s reaction after stealing their vote.”

Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, ⁠told reporters after casting his ballot on Thursday that he expected to win with 80 percent of the vote “if there’s no cheating”.

Victory would hand the former rebel leader a seventh term in office.

Meanwhile, Bobi Wine has alleged massive fraud during the election, which was held under an internet blackout, provoking criticism from the United Nations and international human rights groups.

‘Repression and intimidation’

The UN human rights office said last week that the election was being held in an environment of “widespread repression and intimidation”.

During the campaign, Bobi Wine’s rallies were repeatedly interrupted by security forces firing ‍tear gas and bullets, killing at least one ‌person and arresting hundreds. The government said they were responding to lawless behaviour.

The vote was also plagued by widespread delays as some polling stations remained closed for up to four hours after the scheduled 7am (04:00 GMT) start time due to “technical challenges”.

Recent political violence in neighbouring Tanzania and Kenya has amplified fears about unrest in Uganda, which has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence from British colonial rule six decades ago.

Bobi Wine had called on his supporters to protest during Thursday’s contest, but there were no signs of demonstrations during voting hours.