Tense Election in Uganda Tests Long-Standing Rule of President Museveni

 Uganda’s presidential election this week has unfolded amid widespread controversy, security force crackdowns and deep concerns about the integrity of the vote — an election that could extend President Yoweri Museveni’s nearly four-decade rule. President Museveni, 81, is widely expected to secure an unprecedented seventh term, with early tallies showing him leading by a wide margin over his most prominent challenger, opposition leader Robert “Bobi Wine” Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. Critics and opposition figures, however, have sharply contested the legitimacy of the process.

Ugandan authorities ordered a nationwide internet blackout days before the election, a move officials framed as necessary to curb “misinformation” and prevent unrest during voting. But human rights advocates and opposition leaders say the shutdown hindered access to information and independent monitoring at a critical moment for democratic accountability.

On election day itself, voting was marred by hours-long delays at polling stations in Kampala and other urban areas after technical issues with biometric voter equipment. Some stations opened several hours late, prompting the electoral commission to extend voting hours to ensure voters were not disenfranchised. Opposition supporters reported difficulty casting ballots in key districts, and at several precincts, security agents reportedly removed party representatives and polling agents, heightening fears of irregularities.

Bobi Wine — a popular musician turned politician who draws much of his support from young Ugandans frustrated with entrenched governance — has accused the ruling establishment of widespread ballot stuffing, intimidation and abduction of party agents. He also alleged that heavy security presence effectively confined him and his team to their compound on election day, a claim authorities have rejected.

In the early hours after counting began, conflicting reports emerged about violence in central Uganda. Government officials said police acted in self-defense after opposition supporters attacked a police station.

Opposition lawmakers, by contrast, asserted that security forces stormed a lawmaker’s residence and killed campaign team members — a charge denied by police. At least seven deaths have been reported in post-election clashes, according to police, with additional injuries and detentions underscoring the fraught atmosphere surrounding what is one of Uganda’s most contentious ballots in years.

Museveni’s tenure — stretching back to 1986 — has made him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. His supporters credit him with relative stability, infrastructure development, and economic growth. Detractors argue that his government has systematically undermined democratic institutions and curtailed civil liberties to maintain power. Critics also point to the prominent role of Museveni’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as indicative of an informal succession strategy that would extend the family’s grip on Uganda’s politics even further.

The election comes as Uganda continues to play a significant role in East African security and diplomacy, including peacekeeping operations in neighboring conflict zones and hosting one of Africa’s largest refugee populations. How the international community responds to these results — particularly given the allegations of repression and procedural flaws — could carry broader implications for regional stability and governance norms.

Final results are expected within the next 48 hours, but uncertainty over voter turnout, transparency and the credibility of the count threatens to overshadow any outcome. For many Ugandans — especially the country’s predominantly young population, most of whom have never lived under a different head of state — the election represents not just a contest of personalities but a deeper struggle over the future of democratic governance in East Africa.

Reporting by a pool of reporters from Kampala