Technical failures and missing materials left voters waiting for hours as frustration grew in Kampala and beyond.

Logistical problems delayed voting across Uganda during presidential and parliamentary elections, with many polling stations opening late amid a nationwide internet shutdown.

Voters in the capital Kampala reported waits of up to four hours, largely due to malfunctioning biometric identification kits and the late arrival of polling materials.

Election officials apologised for what they described as technical glitches and said efforts were under way to fix them.

The electoral commission authorised the use of the national voters register where biometric machines failed and said all voters in queues by 16:00 local time would be allowed to vote. It did not clearly state whether polling hours would be extended.

President Yoweri Museveni, in power since 1986 and seeking a seventh term, acknowledged difficulties after casting his ballot.

His main challenger, opposition leader Bobi Wine, alleged widespread machine failures and the arrest of his agents.

Some voters left without voting, saying they could not wait any longer. The problems affected both government strongholds and opposition areas.

The elections follow a tense campaign marked by accusations of harassment of opposition supporters.

CBI News reports that internet access was shut down earlier in the week, a move authorities said was to prevent unrest but which critics argue hindered transparency and monitoring of the vote.