Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said on Sunday that his large victory in the presidential election confirmed the domination of his party, in power for almost forty years. Speaking the day after the vote, he said the result offered "a good overview of the strength" of the ruling party.
The opposition was lucky , Museveni said, referring to the low turnout recorded during Thursday's vote. According to official figures, only 52% of voters went to the polls, the lowest rate since the return of the multi-party system to Uganda in 2006. Ten million of my fellow citizens did not show up. They would have been very embarrassed, he added.
Addressing the nation from his second home in the west of the country, in front of several dignitaries, the president said he believed many of the abstainers were supporters of his own camp.
According to official results, Yoweri Museveni received 71.6% of the vote, compared to 24.7% for his main rival, opposition leader Bobi Wine. The latter, whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, rejected these results, calling them fraudulent. At 43, the former musician turned politician has possible recourse to the courts, although they have, in the past, rejected opposition electoral challenges, while recommending reforms to the electoral system.
The 81-year-old Museveni is set to begin a seventh term, bringing him closer to five decades in power, making him one of Africa's longest-serving leaders. Its supporters highlight the relative peace and stability of the country, which has become a refuge for hundreds of thousands of people fleeing regional conflicts.
Blackout and tensions during and after the election
In his speech, the president accused the opposition of seeking to provoke violence during the vote. He notably mentioned the death of at least seven opposition supporters, killed by the police after a machete attack on a polling station in the central district of Mpigi. He also called on religious leaders to dialogue with young people, whom he considers vulnerable to calls for violence.
The electoral process was marked by several incidents, including a multi-day internet shutdown and failures of biometric identification machines, which delayed the opening of polling stations in some regions, notably in Kampala. Bobi Wine denounced fraud in areas considered bastions of power and affirmed that these dysfunctions could provide a basis for legal recourse.
The campaign took place under a strong presence of security forces. Bobi Wine claims to have been followed and that his supporters were regularly dispersed using tear gas. Fearing for his safety, he campaigned wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet.
Yoweri Museveni remained in power by repeatedly changing the constitutional framework, including removing term limits and age restrictions. Several political rivals have been imprisoned or sidelined, and the president has not named a successor. Kizza Besigye, a historic opposition figure and candidate in four presidential elections, remains detained for treason, a charge he considers politically motivated.
