Uganda – President Yoweri Museveni has alleged that the National Unity Platform (NUP), led by Bobi Wine, manipulated approximately 2.7 million votes in the last general election.
According to Museveni, the alleged manipulation raised serious concerns about the credibility of the electoral process and prompted the government to strengthen voting technology to safeguard future elections.
He claimed the irregularities involved inflated figures from certain areas and issues during vote tallying, which he says undermined the true will of Ugandan voters and caused post-election tensions.
In response, the government introduced Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVK) to improve transparency and reduce fraud.
The machines verify voters using fingerprints and personal details before ballots are cast, helping prevent multiple voting, voter impersonation, and the use of fake voter registers.
Museveni insisted that the BVVK system also exposed weaknesses in opposition strategies, which he argued relied on manipulation rather than genuine voter support.
He maintained that the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) gained an advantage not through intimidation, but through a cleaner and more controlled electoral process.
However, NUP leaders and other opposition figures have disputed Museveni’s claims, arguing that the elections were unfair and accusing the government of using state power and technology to suppress opposition support. They also claim that BVVK machines were selectively deployed or malfunctioned in some areas.
Despite these disagreements, Museveni defended the continued use of BVVK machines in upcoming elections, emphasizing their role in improving the integrity of Uganda’s electoral process.
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Politics