President Yoweri Museveni has won Uganda's general election. He will serve another five years. This extends his leadership of 40 years. He is 81 years old. His main opponent was Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old pop star. Official results show Museveni received many votes. However, the election results have faced strong objections. This raises worries about democracy in Uganda.
The election period ended on Thursday. It was marked by a difficult atmosphere. Civil liberties were limited. The internet and social media were shut down. This happened before and after the vote. This made it hard to check information. It also stopped public discussion. The government said this was to prevent problems. However, it isolated people. It also made it hard for observers to watch the election. Internet access was partly restored on Saturday. But the lack of transparency had already happened.
Bobi Wine leads the National Unity Platform (NUP). He has strongly rejected the results. He says there were many election problems. He claims there were "fake results." He also said votes were added illegally. He believes this happened during the voting. The system for identifying voters did not work well. People had to use paper lists instead. Wine says this was used to add votes for Museveni. He says security forces searched his home. However, officials deny this.
The election campaign was violent. Police and soldiers were present. There were small protests in Kampala, the capital. Streets were empty and shops were closed. Fighting happened between security forces and Wine's supporters. Officials said seven people died. However, opposition members think more people died. The election took place in a tense situation. President Museveni called some opponents "terrorists." He said they worked with outside groups.
This win makes Museveni one of Africa's longest-serving leaders. He took power in 1986. A group called Freedom House says Uganda is "not free." The government's actions against critics receive international criticism. Many believe democratic systems are weakening. This election is disputed. Communication was restricted. Opposition activities were suppressed. These events create questions about freedom and politics in Uganda. The world will watch Uganda closely.