Museveni Secures Seventh Term, Extending Uganda’s 40-Year Rule Amid Opposition Protests

Uganda’s long-serving president Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of Thursday’s presidential election, extending his rule of the East African nation to nearly 40 years.

The Electoral Commission announced that Museveni secured 72 percent of the vote, defeating his closest challenger, opposition leader Bobi Wine, who garnered 25 percent. The result grants Museveni, 81, a seventh presidential term and another five years in office.

However, the outcome has been strongly disputed by Wine, who dismissed the results as “fake” and accused authorities of ballot stuffing.

While he has not presented evidence to support the claims, Wine has urged Ugandans to engage in non-violent protests against what he describes as an illegitimate election. Authorities have so far not responded directly to the allegations.

Tensions escalated overnight after Wine’s party claimed he had been abducted from his home in the capital, Kampala. Police swiftly denied the claim. Wine later said in a Facebook statement that he had evaded a night-time security raid and had gone into hiding. He had earlier stated that he was under house arrest.

Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said Wine’s movements were restricted because his residence was located in an area of “security interest.” Speaking to the Daily Monitor, Rusoke said police had controlled access to certain locations deemed security hotspots to prevent gatherings that could cause unrest.

Museveni first came to power in 1986 after leading a rebel movement that ended years of instability. Since then, he has won every presidential election, positioning himself as a guarantor of peace and stability in a country with a troubled past.

Wine, a former pop star turned politician, has emerged as Museveni’s most formidable challenger in recent years, particularly among young voters. He has consistently said he represents Uganda’s youthful population, noting that the majority of citizens are under the age of 30. His campaign focused on fighting corruption and implementing sweeping political and economic reforms.

The election featured six other candidates, none of whom secured more than two percent of the vote. Voter turnout stood at 52.5 percent.

The campaign period was marred by reports of disruptions to opposition activities, with security forces accused of harassing, assaulting, and detaining Wine’s supporters. Police have rejected these accusations, with Rusoke claiming opposition supporters were instead responsible for provoking disorder.

As Uganda awaits the aftermath of the disputed vote, the country faces renewed scrutiny over its democratic process and the balance between political stability and political freedoms.