Facebook and WhatsApp have been blocked, the main opposition leader arrested, and tear gas fired at voters so far during a tumultuous day at the polls.

Ugandans headed to the polls on Thursday to vote in the tightest presidential election in the nation's history. But things were anything but smooth for those trying to cast a ballot.

Ben Curtis / AP

President Yoweri Museveni — who took power in 1986 — is facing down two other main candidates in the election. Should he win, it would be his fifth-term in office.

Ben Curtis / AP

A delay in opening polling stations in and around the capital city of Kampala — a stronghold of opposition support — led to voters waiting in line for up to seven hours for ballot papers to arrive.

"There has been a delay in delivery of polling materials in some parts of Wakiso district and Kampala capital city. The Electoral Commission regrets the delay," the commission said in a statement.

Ben Curtis / AP

At one polling station, when ballots finally arrived, they only had places to vote for members of parliament — not president — prompting the assembled voters to destroy the ballots and send election officials fleeing.

Ben Curtis / AP

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