Uganda Election- Vote counting begins

After tensed voting process that saw voting delayed in most stations in Uganda, all the 10 presidential candidates have confirmed to have cast their voting and all eyes have shifted to vote counting. the main tallying center has started releasing the results.
National Unity Platforms’s (NUP) Robert Kyagulanyi cast his vote in Magere, Wakiso where he got emotional after seeing his face on the ballot. National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in Rwakitura, John Katumba voted in Mukono, Nancy Kalembe in Muyenga, FDC’s Patrick Amuriat cast his in Kumi, DP’s Norbert Mao in Gulu, Fred Mwesigye in Entebbe, Joseph Kabuleeta in Hoima, ANT’s Mugisha Muntu in, Henry Tumukunde in Kololo and Willy Mayambala in Luweero.
The voting process, according to the Electoral Commission (EC), was supposed to end at exactly 4pm. However, multiple voters were still in the lines by closing time.
Vote counting in most parts began late evening on Thursday in most stations and the provisional results are already trickling in .
Vote tallying at the main centre in Kyambogo, Kampala midnight Friday, five hours later than the electoral body had anticipated but with preliminary results from 330 (0.7%) polling stations giving incumbent president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni an early lead.
Mr Museveni, 76, stood highest with 50,097 votes (61.31%) while opposition frontrunner and NUP presidential candidate, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine was trailing with 22, 802 votes (27.9%), according to Electoral Commission’s (EC) provisional results. 153 votes were deemed invalid on the night.
The Internet shut down and restriction of the media has even worsened the situation making it hard to get the results in real time and this has worried the presidential candidates who are in the race to ouster President Museveni.
“I believe that switching off the internet was a very bad sign. A whole government decided that the nation has no freedom of expression and speech,” only female contender for the presidential seat, Nancy Kalembe said.
Museveni after voting had stated that he will concede defeat should the poles be fair. However many question his move to make the process opaque.
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Yesterday, Uganda Police raided a parallel tallying centre in a hotel at Kampala believed to have been organized by members of Civil Society Organisations who intended to carry out their own tallying process of the 2021 general elections.
“Our task teams together with our cyber experts have raided the place and are trying as much as possible to verify and come up with evidence to prove that this was a parallel tallying centre,” Fred Enanga the police spokesperson told NTV Uganda.
The Ugandan Electoral commission stated that it is the only official body tasked with announcing the results and no one else should do so.
Bobi Wine has alluded his confidence that he will defeat president Museveni should the pole results be fair.