Veteran journalist Charles Onyango Obbo has raised serious concerns over Uganda’s January 15 elections, highlighting how internet shutdowns, alleged voter register inflation, and demographic factors may have influenced the outcome.
According to Obbo, President Yoweri Museveni currently leads with 70% of the vote, while opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, has denounced the process as rigged.
Obbo noted that two days before the elections, the government cut internet access, which he argues prevented opposition agents and citizen journalists from reporting irregularities in real-time.
“By the time connectivity returned, ballots were already processed, leaving little room to challenge potential malpractice,” he explained.
The journalist also emphasized concerns over the voter register, which the opposition has rejected due to evidence of double registrations.
He observed that with 73% of Uganda’s population born after Museveni came to power in 1986, the election appears less a contest of popularity and more a bid for extending legitimacy.
In his view, an inflated register coupled with a digital blackout could mathematically favor the incumbent even amid low voter turnout.
Obbo further pointed out that opposition polling agents were reportedly blocked or arrested in rural areas, leaving stations vulnerable.
He added that failures in biometric machines forced reliance on manual registers, creating conditions conducive to ballot manipulation.
He explained that the official register lists 21.6 million voters, meaning even if Bobi Wine received four million legitimate votes, this could be reduced to just 26% in the reported tallies, undermining his support among Uganda’s youth.
Through these observations, Obbo suggests that the combination of the internet blackout, inflated register, and demographic realities contributed to what appears to be a pre-determined outcome.
He noted that these factors have significantly challenged the fairness and transparency of Uganda’s electoral process.