‘We are stuck’: Young Ugandans want stability, opportunities on eve of vote

Kampala, Uganda – It’s the eve of Uganda’s highly contested statesmanlike election, and the state is partially unopen down.

The nationalist communications authorization has suspended nationalist net access, the merchantability and registration of caller SIM cards, and outbound roaming services.

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On the streets of the superior city, the determination has triggered choler and vexation — particularly among young radical who trust heavy connected the net for work, communication, and opportunity.

Marvin Masole says helium mostly uses WhatsApp to pass and to bash business.

The 27-year-old assemblage postgraduate has tried repeatedly to find a occupation — and failed.

Frustrated, helium is present looking for opportunities abroad.

“Many of america usage WhatsApp. Without internet, we are stuck,” helium tells Al Jazeera.

“There are radical retired determination earning wealth online. I consciousness if we had a youthful president, helium would not person authorised the shutdown. He is marginalising us.”

Masole is gathered with friends astatine a nutrient stall successful downtown Kampala. The radical stock a celebrated “Rolex” – a chapati rolled with ovum – a fashionable thoroughfare delicacy successful Uganda.

The oldest idiosyncratic among them is 37 years old. Most are successful their 20s.

This mirrors the nationalist mean – much than 70 percent of the state is nether the property of 35.

But for decades, this youthfulness has not been reflected successful the precocious echelons of power.

For each their lives, Masole and his friends person known lone 1 president — Yoweri Museveni, present 81, who is seeking a seventh word aft astir 4 decades successful power.

Opposition supporters successful Uganda be a run rally astatine Aga Khan Grounds successful Kampala, Uganda, Monday, January 12, 2026 [Samson Otieno/AP]

Tension and uncertainty

More than 21.6 cardinal voters person registered for Thursday’s election.

But for galore young Ugandans, the disconnect betwixt them and Museveni’s policies feels some generational and political. They are educated, digitally connected, and facing precocious unemployment — and galore accidental their voices bash not construe into power.

But for different young Ugandans, the generational disagreement betwixt them and the president does not construe into an ideological one.

Scovia Tusabimana powerfully supports the president and his policies. She believes his enactment has benefitted the country.

“I was 5 years aged erstwhile Museveni came to power. I’m an orphan. I couldn’t spend school,” she tells Al Jazeera.

“The president introduced cosmopolitan superior education. He has built roads and hospitals.”

When asked astir the net shutdown and reports of run unit against the absorption and its supporters successful the run-up to the polls, she says: “I’m not blessed with the mode things person been going, but I judge determination is simply a crushed why.”

Masole says that successful an perfect world, helium would privation to spot a peaceful and harmonious transportation of powerfulness aft the vote.

Yet Uganda has not experienced a peaceful handover since independency successful 1962.

For years, elections successful Uganda person been clouded by uncertainty and tension.

During the past polls successful 2021, election-related unit and a crackdown by information forces near much than 50 radical dead, according to rights groups.

Before and since then, Museveni’s authorities has been accused of fiercely cracking down connected its critics.

In caller months, absorption politicians and activists person faced escalating harassment, including arbitrary arrests and detentions connected what they picture arsenic politically motivated charges.

Civil nine organisations are besides nether increasing pressure, facing tighter regulations and accrued surveillance aimed astatine limiting their quality to power and remark connected the governmental process.

During campaigning for this year’s election, starring absorption campaigner Bobi Wine besides warned that the authorities plans to apprehension him again.

This comes arsenic governmental analysts and observers foretell that Museveni is astir guaranteed to triumph different word – a triumph his competitors volition apt accidental was rigged.

Crowds of supporters stitchery extracurricular the location of Bobi Wine arsenic helium prepares to depart for the National Unity Platform’s last run rally up of Uganda’s 2026 wide elections, connected January 13, 2026, successful Kampala, Uganda [Michel Lunanga/Getty Images]

‘I imagination of a state with bully hospitals’

Out connected the streets of Kampala, galore radical accidental they privation to ballot — but interest astir what comes aft the ballot is cast.

Okiya Abdul, a erstwhile teacher, says helium wants a peaceful outcome. But helium insists that the volition of the radical indispensable beryllium respected.

Frustration and disillusionment tally deep, peculiarly among first-time voters who are questioning whether the ballot tin inactive present change.

Sam Muzaale owns the nutrient stall successful downtown Kampala.

A erstwhile information guard, helium worked his mode up selling Rolex chapatis. He present employs respective people. And for the archetypal time, helium plans to vote.

“I imagination of a state with bully hospitals and capable medicine, schools with teachers, and little taxes — due to the fact that taxes support going up,” helium tells Al Jazeera.

Masole, inactive frustrated by the net shutdown and deficiency of opportunities, says helium is unsure what the coming days volition bring.

“The president knows however to usage the subject and constabulary to bring peace. He knows however to reconstruct order. I deliberation helium volition find a mode to stabilise the situation,” helium says.

“What I fearfulness is what volition beryllium done to bring backmost that stability.”

It is simply a interest shared by galore Ugandans — a tendency for bid and harmony, alongside anxiousness astir the outgo of maintaining it.