Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni wins seventh term in a controversial Uganda election result, securing 71.65 percent of the vote in Thursday’s poll, the Electoral Commission announced on Saturday, in a contest marred by violence, arrests and a nationwide internet shutdown.
The controversial Uganda election result allows the 81-year-old to extend his four decades in power, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. Museveni defeated his main challenger, former singer and opposition politician Bobi Wine, who garnered 24.72 percent but has firmly rejected the outcome as fraudulent.
Wine, 43, denounced the official result and said he had gone into hiding after security forces searched his home late Friday, although police denied he was arrested. He called the process a controversial Uganda election result, claiming widespread intimidation, ballot irregularities and restrictions on communications.
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Heavy security deployment, reports of at least 10 deaths and the government-ordered internet blackout drew sharp criticism from rights groups and African observers, who said the environment of fear undermined the credibility of the vote.
Museveni’s victory continues a political era that began in 1986, reinforcing the incumbent’s dominant grip on Uganda’s governance despite persistent calls for change from younger voters and opposition figures.