Veteran President Yoweri Museveni was declared the landslide winner of Uganda’s presidential election yesterday, extending his rule into a fifth decade after a contest marred by violent incidents and allegations of fraud.
The result hands the 81-year-old Museveni the decisive victory he sought to bolster his political position as speculation mounts about his eventual succession.
Uganda’s electoral commission said at a ceremony in the capital Kampala yesterday that Museveni had received just under 72 per cent of the vote. His main challenger, the pop singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, was credited with 24pc. Wine has alleged mass fraud during the election, which was held under an internet blackout that authorities said was needed to prevent “misinformation”, and called on supporters to protest.
Wine’s whereabouts were unknown yesterday after he said he had escaped a raid by the military on his house. People close to him told Reuters he was at large in Uganda.
“Last night was very difficult at our home ... The military and the police raided us. They switched off power and cut off some of our CCTV cameras,” Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, said in a post on X.
“I want to confirm I managed to escape from them. Currently, I am not at home.”
He added that his wife and other family members were under house arrest, something Reuters could not immediately verify.
One major violent incident was reported in the hours after polls closed, with police saying seven people were killed and three injured in central Uganda after officers fired in self-defence against opposition “goons” organised by local MP Muwanga Kivumbi.
Kivumbi disputed that account and said 10 people had been killed by security forces inside his house.
Overall, fears that Uganda might experience violence of the kind that killed hundreds in neighbouring Tanzania after its elections in October did not appear to have been realised.
Museveni’s win came as little surprise. Since taking power in 1986 at the head of a rebellion, he has changed the constitution twice to remove age and term limits and dominates state institutions.
He defeated Wine with 58pc of the vote in the last election in 2021, which the United States said was neither free nor fair.
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