Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has secured a seventh electoral victory, extending his four-decade rule for another five-year term following Thursday’s contentious presidential election. According to official results from Uganda’s electoral commission, the 81-year-old incumbent captured 72% of the vote, while his primary challenger, former pop star turned opposition leader Bobi Wine, garnered 25%.
Wine, whose legal name is Robert Kyagulanyi, immediately denounced the outcome as fraudulent, urging citizens to engage in peaceful demonstrations against what he characterized as ‘fabricated results.’ The 43-year-old opposition leader reported that at least 21 fatalities had occurred during electoral violence, though authorities have only confirmed seven deaths.
The election process was overshadowed by an unprecedented nationwide internet shutdown implemented since Tuesday, severely hampering information verification capabilities. Government officials defended the digital blackout as a necessary measure to combat misinformation, electoral fraud, and potential incitement to violence. However, the United Nations human rights office condemned the internet suspension as ‘deeply concerning,’ while Wine demanded immediate restoration of digital connectivity.
Museveni first assumed power in 1986 as a rebel leader and has since maintained control through a series of electoral victories that opposition groups and international observers have frequently questioned. The latest electoral process has drawn heightened scrutiny due to the combination of violence allegations, communication restrictions, and disputed results that characterize Uganda’s political landscape.