Ugandan election descends into violence with opposition chief ‘captured’ and a minimum of seven ‘supporters’ killed as President Museveni closes in on landslide victory

At least seven people have been killed in Uganda as the country’s presidential election descended into violent chaos, with the opposition announcing their leader has been captured.

The National Union Party said on Friday evening that their leader, Bobi Wine, had been taken by the army from his house and brought to an unknown location as President Yoweri Museveni closes in on a landslide re-election.

In an X post, the opposition group made the unverified claim that an army helicopter had landed in Wine’s compound in the capital and had ‘forcibly taken him away’. 

Some senior party officials said they did not have confirmation on whether Wine had been captured, while spokespeople for Uganda’s government and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

Wine alleged mass fraud during ⁠Thursday’s election, which was held under an internet blackout, and called on supporters to protest. 

His party said ​on Thursday he had been placed under effective house ‍arrest. 

The vote has been widely seen as a test of the 81-year-old Museveni’s political ​strength and ability to avoid the unrest that has rocked neighbours Tanzania and Kenya.

The National Union Party said on Friday evening that their leader, Bobi Wine, had been taken by the army from his house

Uganda’s security forces patrol a street during protests following the announcement of the preliminary results in Kampala, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026

Ugandans stage protests in the capital Kampala following preliminary results of the general elections

As of Friday evening, Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, held a commanding lead with nearly 74 per cent of the vote, the electoral commission said. Wine trailed with 23 per cent. 

After a campaign ‍marred by ‍clashes at opposition rallies and what the United Nations said was widespread repression and intimidation, voting passed peacefully on Thursday.

But violence broke out overnight in the town of Butambala, about 35 miles southwest of the capital Kampala, according to a police spokesperson and a member of parliament from the area, who gave differing accounts of events.

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,’ she told Reuters, adding that 25 people were arrested.

Kivumbi, however, told ⁠Reuters the victims were killed at around 3 a.m. inside his house, where they were waiting for election results for his parliamentary seat to be announced.

‘They killed 10 people inside my house,’ he 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.’

Motorcyclists ride past smoke on the street during a protest following the announcement of the preliminary results in Kampala, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026

The violence comes after President Yoweri Museveni closed in on a landslide reelection

Museveni (pictured) has been in power since 1986

He said ‍security forces had earlier dispersed crowds outside but ⁠disputed the police’s assertion that the deaths occurred during clashes between the two sides.

Tumushabe, the police spokesperson, said she was not aware of an incident at Kivumbi’s house, which she said was close to the police station.

Reuters was not able to independently confirm the circumstances of the violence.