Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election, securing a seventh term in office. According to official results, Museveni won 71.65 percent of the votes, while his closest challenger, Bobi Wine, took 24.72 percent. The election was marred by reports of intimidation, arrest, and abductions targeting the opposition, which have raised concerns about the poll’s credibility.
African observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, have denounced the reports, stating that they “instilled fear and eroded public trust in the electoral process.” Jonathan, who represented the African Union and regional bodies, expressed these concerns before the final results were announced. Additionally, members of east African civil society claimed to have witnessed election fraud, citing late-opening polling stations, missing voting kits, and already full ballot boxes.
Museveni, 81, has been in power for 40 years, and his leadership has been marked by the removal of presidential term and age limits from Uganda’s constitution. Some of his potential rivals have been jailed, and he has not indicated when he plans to retire. Bobi Wine, who has been arrested multiple times, declared his “complete rejection of the fake results” and stated that he was in hiding after a raid on his home. The police denied raiding Wine’s home but acknowledged controlling access to areas deemed security hotspots.
The election took place amid an ongoing internet shutdown and a heavy security presence, with Wine alleging that his party’s polling agents were abducted to give the ruling party an unfair advantage. The National Resistance Movement, Museveni’s ruling party, also has a commanding lead in parliamentary polls held alongside the presidential vote, according to provisional results.
The outcome of the election was widely expected, with African affairs expert Jeffrey Smith predicting an “overwhelming reported victory” for Museveni. Smith expressed concerns about the potential for a government crackdown and deeper instability in the country, given its young population. The international community will be watching the situation closely, as Uganda navigates its next steps under Museveni’s continued leadership.
