Uganda’s long-serving President Yoweri Museveni, who has just secured a seventh term in office at the age of 81, has accused opposition groups of being “terrorists” who allegedly attempted to use violence to overturn the outcome of last week’s presidential election.
Speaking on Sunday after the release of official results, Museveni said members of the opposition had plotted attacks on polling stations in areas where they were losing. The election commission declared Museveni the winner with 72 percent of the vote, while his main challenger, Bobi Wine — whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi — received 25 percent.
The election outcome has drawn sharp criticism from African election observers, international rights groups, and opposition figures, who cited widespread repression, arrests, intimidation, and a near-total internet blackout in the days leading up to the vote.
Bobi Wine in Hiding, Conflicting Police Claims
Bobi Wine’s whereabouts remained uncertain on Sunday. On Saturday, Wine said he had escaped a police raid on his home and was now in hiding. Police denied the raid, insisting he remained at his residence, but journalists were blocked from approaching the property, raising further questions.
Wine has not posted on social media platform X since Saturday, when he condemned what he described as the “blatant theft of the presidential election.”
Museveni’s Strong Warning to Opposition
In his victory speech, Museveni accused Wine’s party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), of plotting coordinated violence.
“Some of the opposition are wrong and also terrorists,” Museveni said, adding that they were working with “some foreigners and some homosexual groups.”
He issued a direct warning, saying:
“All the traitors — this is free advice from me — stop everything, because we know what you are doing and you will not do it.”
Museveni has ruled Uganda since 1986, when he came to power after leading a rebel army, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
Internet Restrictions and Security Crackdown
Although limited internet access was restored late Saturday, the government confirmed that social media platforms would remain blocked until further notice. Authorities said the shutdown, which began two days before the election, was necessary to prevent “misinformation” and “incitement to violence.”
Uganda has remained largely calm since the results were announced, though small protests erupted in parts of Kampala on Saturday night, with AFP journalists reporting the use of tear gas by security forces. By Sunday, the heavy security presence had eased, shops reopened, and residents returned to the streets.
Claims of Planned Attacks and Election-Day Violence
Museveni claimed that opposition supporters had planned attacks “everywhere” across the country. The most serious incident was reported in Butambala district, where an opposition lawmaker told AFP that at least 10 people were killed by security forces at his home on election day.
Authorities said the deaths occurred after a planned assault on a ballot-tallying centre and police station, a version of events Museveni echoed in his remarks.
Observers Raise Alarm Over Electoral Process
Human Rights Watch accused the Ugandan government of engaging in “brutal repression” of opposition groups ahead of the vote.
African election observers, including a mission from the African Union, said reports of intimidation, arrests and abductions had “instilled fear and eroded public trust in the electoral process.”
Another prominent opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, who has challenged Museveni in four previous elections, remains on trial for treason. Besigye was abducted in Kenya in 2024 and transferred to a military court in Uganda, where proceedings are ongoing.
A Foregone Conclusion, Analysts Say
Analysts say the election result was largely expected, given Museveni’s tight control over the state and security apparatus. While many Ugandans continue to credit him with bringing relative stability and economic growth, critics argue that democratic space has steadily narrowed.
Museveni has repeatedly cited regional instability — including unrest during elections in neighbouring Tanzania — as justification for Uganda’s heavy-handed security measures.