Uganda’s Museveni wins seventh term

Uganda’s Electoral Commission has officially declared His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the elected President of the Republic for another term, affirming his victory in Thursday’s presidential poll with 7.9 million votes (71.6%) against 2.7 million votes for opposition leader Bobi Wine.

Internet access was shutdown in Uganda during the election, and the government justified the blackout as a mitigation against misinformation

The announcement, made on January 17, 2026, confirms Museveni’s seventh consecutive term in office, further extending his nearly four‑decade leadership of the East African nation.

Authorities justified the blackout as a measure to prevent misinformation, electoral fraud, and the incitement of violence.

Opposition leader Bobi Wine has called for an immediate restoration of internet services, arguing that unrestricted access is essential for a credible electoral process.

Museveni’s re‑election, at age 81, reflects a broader trend on the African continent where long‑standing presidents maintain power for decades, often through constitutional amendments and political dominance that critics argue erode democratic norms.

The results confirm Museveni’s seventh consecutive term in office, further extending his nearly four‑decade rule

Bobi Wine, a former pop star turned opposition leader, immediately rejected the official results accusing the electoral commission of a lack of transparency. Wine and his supporters alleged irregularities including ballot‑stuffing, intimidation, and an internet blackout that obscured independent reporting during the vote count.