In a closely watched election, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner, extending his four-decade rule by another five years. The 81-year-old leader secured 72% of the vote, while his main challenger, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, received 25%.
However, the election process has been marred by allegations of fraud and violence. Wine has condemned the results as “fake” and accused the authorities of “ballot stuffing”, though he has not provided any concrete evidence. The African Union election observers, on the other hand, stated that they saw no evidence of such malpractices.
The run-up to the election was also plagued by a crackdown on the opposition, with reports of intimidation, arrests, and abductions of Wine’s supporters. The authorities have justified these actions by claiming that they were necessary to prevent the “incitement of violence” – a move that the UN human rights office has described as “deeply worrying”.
Adding to the controversy, the Ugandan government has also imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, making it difficult to verify information and claims from both sides. The authorities argue that the blackout was necessary to prevent the spread of misinformation and fraud, but this decision has been condemned by international observers, including the former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who led the African Union observer mission.
Museveni, who first came to power as a rebel leader in 1986, has now won seven consecutive elections. Despite once criticizing African leaders who cling to power, he is now seeking a seventh term in office. His supporters argue that he is the “sole guarantor of stability” in a country with a history of conflict, while his detractors, like Wine, see him as a symbol of the country’s authoritarian tendencies.
The election has once again highlighted the challenges facing Uganda’s democracy, as the country grapples with the balance between stability and political reform. As the dust settles, the international community will be closely watching to see how the Museveni government responds to the allegations of irregularities and the calls for a peaceful transition of power.
