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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni secured a seventh term in office on Saturday, January 17, following an election overshadowed by violence, an internet blackout, and reports of arrests and abductions that African observers said had “instilled fear” across the country.
The 81-year-old leader won 71.65% of the vote in Thursday’s election, according to the Electoral Commission, extending his 40-year rule over Uganda. Reports of at least 10 deaths, along with intimidation targeting opposition figures and civil society groups, have raised serious concerns about the election’s fairness.
Museveni’s main challenger, Bobi Wine, 43, a former singer turned politician, received 24.72% of the vote. On Saturday, Wine said he was in hiding following a raid by security forces on his home.
Wine, who has faced persistent pressure since entering politics—including multiple arrests before his first presidential bid in 2021—rejected the election results. He shared on social media platform X:
“I want to confirm that I managed to escape from them. Currently, I am not at home, although my wife and other family members remain under house arrest. I know that these criminals are looking for me everywhere, and I am trying my best to keep safe.”
Police denied raiding Wine’s home, stating that they had only “controlled access in areas we feel are security hotspots,” and suggested that the opposition leader might still be at home.
“We have not necessarily denied people accessing him, but we cannot tolerate instances where people use his residence to gather and… incite violence,” police spokesman Kituuma Rusoke told reporters.
The election and its aftermath have intensified scrutiny of Uganda’s political climate, raising questions about the future of democratic governance in the East African nation.
