KAMPALA, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Veteran President Yoweri Museveni was declared the landslide winner of ‌Uganda's ​presidential election on Saturday, extending his rule ‌into a fifth decade after a contest marred by violent incidents and allegations of fraud.

Yoweri Museveni has been president longer than most Ugandans have been alive, and shows no sign of giving up his place among the world's longest-serving leaders after he won a seventh election on Saturday.

Vote counting is underway in Uganda's tense presidential election, which took place amid an internet shutdown and voting delays.

Ugandans are voting in a tense presidential election as 81-year-old President Yoweri Museveni seeks to extend his four-decade rule amid an internet shutdown and heavy military deployment.

Technical failures at polling places have caused disruptions, and the opposition has warned of government vote rigging amid an internet blackout.

Voting delays have been reported in Uganda’s presidential election. Some polling stations opened up to four hours late Thursday morning during a days-long internet shutdown that has been criticized as an anti-democratic tactic.

Ugandans will Thursday cast their votes in a crucial presidential rematch between a former pop star, Bobi Wine, and their long-time authoritarian leader, Yoweri Museveni.