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Museveni wins fourth consecutive term with 72% of vote
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has secured another five-year term after winning 72% of the vote in Thursday's election, according to official results released Saturday. The outcome extends his 40-year rule, one of the longest in Africa.
Opposition cries foul, alleges repression
Museveni's main challenger, Bobi Wine-a 43-year-old former pop star-rejected the results as "fake" and said he had gone into hiding after security forces raided his home. Wine's share of the vote fell to 25%, down from 35% in the 2021 election.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, accused authorities of disrupting his rallies with tear gas and live ammunition, resulting in deaths among his supporters. He also alleged ballot stuffing but provided no evidence. Ugandan officials have not responded to the claims.
Museveni's campaign: stability and economic promises
The 81-year-old incumbent framed his victory as proof of widespread support, citing his record of political and economic stability. He pledged to elevate Uganda to middle-income status by 2030, with oil exports as a key driver.
Museveni set October as the target for the first crude oil shipments via a 1,443-kilometer pipeline to Tanzania's port of Tanga. He predicted double-digit economic growth once exports begin.
Despite his age, Museveni sought to project vigor, visiting all 140-plus electoral constituencies. However, his team canceled several October campaign events citing "state duties," fueling speculation about his health.
Succession looms over Uganda's political future
Analysts say the election underscores deeper shifts within Museveni's ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), particularly around succession. A March 2023 cabinet reshuffle and August 2025 NRM leadership elections revealed factional struggles, with Museveni's son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, emerging as a dominant figure.
Kainerugaba, 51, now oversees all security matters as chief of defense forces. Veteran NRM leaders have been sidelined in favor of allies loyal to him, signaling a potential dynastic transition.
"Change in Uganda happens gradually. The election is less a transformation than a ritual legitimizing slower shifts within the ruling party."
Allan Kasujja, Ugandan journalist and analyst
Power consolidated within Museveni's inner circle
Sources close to the presidency describe a decentralized decision-making structure, with Museveni's eldest daughter, Natasha Karugire, managing his schedule; his half-brother, Salim Saleh, handling foreign and military relations; and his son-in-law, Odrek Rwabwogo, shaping economic policy.
Kainerugaba's control over security-coupled with the military's historical influence-positions him as the likely successor, even without the presidency. His rise reflects a broader trend of dynastic politics in Africa, where power is increasingly hereditary.
Wine's future in doubt after second defeat
For Wine, the election marks a second failed presidential bid. Analysts warn he risks becoming another opposition figure marginalized by repression, a fate shared by critics across the continent.
While Wine mobilized Uganda's youthful population, voters ultimately favored Museveni's promise of stability over change. His campaign embodied the frustrations of a generation eager for reform, but the results suggest a preference for continuity.
