Ugandan President won the election on 10 Jan 2026, securing another five-year term after ruling the country for 40 years.
Foreign news agencies reported on 17 Jan 2026 that Uganda's Electoral Commission declared President Yoweri Museveni the winner of the election held the previous Thursday, allowing him to remain the country's leader for another five years after more than four decades in power.
The Electoral Commission stated that Museveni received 72% of the vote, while his closest rival, Bobby Wine, garnered 25%. Wine condemned what he called a “fake election result” and “ballot stuffing.”
Wine did not provide further details but called for peaceful protests. The Electoral Commission has not responded to these allegations, though election observers from the African Union said they “found no evidence of ballot stuffing.”
Museveni, 81 years old, first came to power as a rebel leader in 1986 and has won seven elections since then.
This election process was marked by violence. Bobby Wine, a 43-year-old former singer, claimed that at least 21 people have died nationwide in recent days, although official figures report only 7 deaths.
Additionally, internet access in the country has been cut off since Tuesday, making information verification difficult.
The Ugandan government stated that the internet blackout was necessary to prevent the spread of false information, corruption, and incitement to violence—actions the United Nations Human Rights Office condemned as “deeply concerning.”
Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria and leader of the African Union election observer team, told reporters that the Ugandan government should stop blocking internet access around election time.
AFP reported that Jonathan also condemned “reports of intimidation, arrests, and abductions,” saying these incidents “create fear and undermine public confidence in the electoral process.”
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:bbc