Uganda's military on Saturday dismissed claims that opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine had been abducted from his home, as vote counting continued in a tense presidential election overshadowed by reports of deadly violence, allegations of fraud and a sweeping internet blackout.

Wine, the country's most prominent opposition figure, said on Friday that he had been placed under house arrest. His National Unity Platform (NUP) party later claimed that soldiers had escalated the move, alleging that an army helicopter landed at his residence in Kampala and that he was "forcibly taken" to an undisclosed location. 

The army has however denied the claims. 

"The rumors of his so-called arrest are baseless and unfounded," army spokesman Chris Magezi told AFP. "They are designed to incite his supporters into acts of violence."

As the political standoff unfolded, preliminary results pointed to another decisive win for President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has ruled Uganda since 1986. 

With more than 80 percent of ballots counted by Friday, Museveni was leading with 73.7 percent of the vote, compared with Wine's 22.7 percent, according to the Electoral Commission. Final results are expected at around 13:00 GMT on Saturday.

Wine, 43, has accused the government of "massive ballot stuffing" and targeting his supporters during the election, which was held under an internet blackout imposed before polling day.

Those claims could not be independently verified. However, the United Nations human rights office said last week that the vote was taking place in an environment marked by "widespread repression and intimidation" against the opposition.

Clashing accounts of violence

While voting on Thursday was largely peaceful, violence was reported overnight in parts of the country. In Butambala, a town about 55 kilometers southwest of Kampala, at least 10 people were reported killed.

Lydia Tumushabe, a local police spokesperson, told Reuters that machete-wielding opposition "goons” linked to local lawmaker Muwanga Kivumbi attacked a police station and a vote-tallying center. 

"Security responded in self-defence because these people came in big numbers. Police fired in self-defence,” she said, adding that 25 people were arrested.

Reuters said it was unable to independently verify either version of events.

Edited by CGTN Africa reporter Marion Gachuhi