Yoweri Museveni has been declared the victor in Uganda's presidential election, extending his four-decade grip on power for another term. However, the announcement, made on Sunday following the poll, has been met with widespread condemnation, as the opposition has decried the results as fraudulent and the electoral process as deeply flawed, punctuated by an extensive internet shutdown and alleged state-sponsored repression.
The incumbent president, seeking his seventh term, reportedly secured 72% of the official vote, a figure that Bobi Wine, the charismatic opposition leader and frontman for the National Unity Platform (NUP), has vehemently rejected. Wine, who garnered 25% according to official tallies, has labelled the election "fake" and claimed that irregularities, including ballot stuffing and the alleged abduction of election officials, permeated the voting process. His assertions are echoed by numerous domestic and international observers, including rights organisations like Freedom House, which have long characterised Uganda as "not free" due to the persistent absence of credible electoral contests.
The lead-up to and aftermath of the election were marred by a palpable atmosphere of tension and suppression. An almost complete internet blackout, imposed by the government from Thursday until late Saturday, severely hampered communication and the dissemination of information, a tactic widely seen as a means to stifle dissent and control the narrative. While internet access has been partially restored, social media platforms remain inaccessible, thereby curtailing freedom of expression and the ability of citizens to engage in open discourse.
Adding to the controversy, opposition leader Bobi Wine reported that his home in central Uganda was raided by security forces on Friday, with further reports of military and police presence at his residence on Saturday. Wine himself stated on social media that the raid involved the disabling of power and CCTV cameras. The authorities, however, have denied raiding Wine's home, asserting they were merely restricting access to preempt potential unrest.
The election, while largely peaceful at polling stations, was not entirely devoid of violence. Clashes erupted between police and opposition supporters in various parts of the country, leading to casualties. Official reports indicate seven fatalities and three injuries, though an opposition Member of Parliament has claimed that the security forces were responsible for the deaths of ten individuals. The government has justified the actions of its security forces by framing some opposition elements as "terrorists" collaborating with foreign entities and "homosexual groups," a statement that drew criticism for its inflammatory rhetoric.
The use of biometric voter identification machines, which reportedly malfunctioned in several urban centres, necessitated the reliance on manual voter lists. The opposition has seized upon this as a prime example of how the system was manipulated to facilitate ballot stuffing and inflate Museveni's vote count.
Museveni's continued presidency signifies the entrenchment of his leadership, which began in 1986. However, the disputed nature of this election, coupled with the reported human rights abuses and the severe restrictions on digital freedoms, has cast a long shadow over Uganda's democratic credentials. The international community and human rights advocates remain watchful, concerned by the erosion of democratic norms and the potential for further unrest in a nation accustomed to the strong hand of its long-serving leader.