Voting began Thursday in Uganda’s presidential election despite a days-long internet shutdown as President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his 40-year rule.
Crowds gathered and long lines formed in some areas as polling station openings were delayed and voting materials were seen being delivered after the scheduled 7am opening time.
President Yoweri Museveni, 81, faces seven other candidates, including Robert Kyagulanyi, a musician-turned-politician best known as Bobi Wine, who is calling for political change.
Voters will also elect more than 500 members of parliament.
The East African country of roughly 45 million people has 21.6 million registered voters. Voting is expected to close at 4pm local time with results expected within 48 hours.
The government shut down the internet on Tuesday for an indefinite period to prevent the spread of "misinformation" and "incitement to violence".
The United Nations called the shutdown "deeply worrying".
Reports from several parts of the capital, Kampala, and the city of Jinja said voting had yet to begin by 9am (0600 GMT), with reports that ballot papers had not been delivered and biometric machines used to check voters' identities were not working.
"Nobody is here to tell us what is happening," said Abuza Monica Christine, a 56-year-old businesswoman in central Jinja, told AFP.
"The biometric machines are not working so we don't know what’s going on," said Katomgole Juma, a 48-year-old artisan waiting to vote in central Kampala.
A ruling party official told AFP: "Some biometric machines are not working. I don't know if it's the internet. We have not got any information from the (electoral commission)".
Security forces have beefed up their presence in Kampala for election day.
The police warned the vote was "not a justification for criminal acts" and has deployed newly hired "special constables" to enforce order.
