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81 Years Old Museveni Wins Seventh Term as Uganda’s Election Draws Criticism
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been declared winner of the country’s presidential election, securing a seventh term in office at the age of 81 and extending his four-decade rule, amid reports of violence, intimidation and a nationwide internet shutdown.
According to official results released on Saturday by the Electoral Commission, Museveni won 71.65 per cent of the votes cast in Thursday’s election. His closest challenger, opposition leader Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old former musician turned politician, polled 24.72 per cent.
The election was conducted under heavy security and an internet blackout imposed ahead of the polls, a move widely criticised by observers. Reports of at least 10 deaths, arrests and alleged abductions of opposition figures further cast a shadow over the process.
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, rejected the outcome, describing the results as fraudulent. He said he was in hiding after security forces allegedly raided his residence on Friday night, placing his wife and other family members under house arrest.
“I want to confirm that I managed to escape from them,” Wine said in a post on X on Saturday. “Currently, I am not at home, although my wife and other family members remain under house arrest. I know these criminals are looking for me everywhere, and I am trying my best to keep safe.”
Wine has faced sustained pressure since entering politics, including repeated arrests before and during his first presidential bid in 2021. In recent years, he has emerged as Museveni’s most prominent challenger, branding himself the “ghetto president” in reference to his upbringing in Kampala’s slum communities.
Security was visibly tightened across the capital, Kampala, with AFP journalists reporting a heavy police presence as authorities sought to prevent protests similar to those seen recently in neighbouring Kenya and Tanzania.
Police denied raiding Wine’s home, insisting they merely restricted access in areas identified as security hotspots. Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said authorities would not tolerate gatherings around the opposition leader’s residence that could incite violence.
However, residents living near Wine’s home described an atmosphere of fear. A stall owner in the area, Prince Jerard, said he heard the sound of a drone and a helicopter overhead on Friday night and saw numerous security personnel deployed. He added that many residents had fled the neighbourhood.
Wine accused the government of massive ballot stuffing and alleged that members of his party were attacked under the cover of the internet blackout, which remained in force on Saturday.
African election observers said they found no direct evidence of ballot stuffing but expressed deep concern over reports of intimidation, arrests and abductions targeting opposition members and civil society groups. Former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, who led observer missions from the African Union and regional organisations, said such actions had instilled fear and eroded public confidence in the electoral process.
Jonathan criticised the internet shutdown, saying it disrupted effective election observation and increased public suspicion, even though he described voting day itself as largely peaceful.
Provisional parliamentary results also showed Museveni’s ruling National Resistance Movement with a commanding lead, although vote counting was still ongoing.
Analysts have long viewed the election as a foregone conclusion, pointing to Museveni’s firm control of state institutions and the security apparatus since he seized power in 1986. Another prominent opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, who challenged Museveni in four previous elections, was abducted in Kenya in 2024 and returned to Uganda, where he is currently facing trial on treason charges.
There were also reports of election-related violence in several areas. Muwanga Kivumbi, a lawmaker from Wine’s party, claimed that security forces killed 10 of his campaign agents after storming his home in central Uganda. Police disputed the claim, saying an unspecified number of people were neutralised after opposition supporters allegedly attempted to attack and burn a local tally centre and police station.
Museveni’s latest victory further cements his status as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, even as concerns continue to mount over democratic space and political freedoms in Uganda.
Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has approved a new round of appointments and promotions with immediate effect, as part of efforts to strengthen governance and enhance institutional performance in the state.
The development was announced in a statement released on Monday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.
According to the statement, Abubakar Ibrahim Matawalle has been appointed as the Acting Director-General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board. Matawalle, a retired permanent secretary, previously served in a similar role and also held office as the board’s executive secretary. He was described as a seasoned administrator who rose through the civil service ranks from Assistant Secretary to Permanent Secretary before retiring in 2014, after eight years in the position. The statement noted his strong track record in the effective management of Hajj operations.
Governor Yusuf also approved the promotion of Yusuf Mukhtar to the rank of Permanent Secretary.
In another appointment, Barrister Rahama Malam Alhaji was named Provost of the Kano State Anti-Corruption Institute. She was praised as an accomplished legal practitioner with over seven years’ experience spanning litigation, corporate law, electricity law, regulatory compliance and dispute resolution. The statement highlighted her professional background across both public and private sectors, including her time at the Kano Electricity Distribution Company and her role as Head of the School of Law at Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria. She holds a Master of Laws degree in International Law and was credited with pioneering initiatives such as the establishment of a Law Clinic and a Student Bar Association.
The governor further approved the promotion of veteran Kannywood actress Aina’u Ade from Special Assistant to Senior Special Assistant on Kannywood Affairs, citing her impressive performance and dedication in her previous assignment.
The statement said the latest appointments and promotions reflect the administration’s resolve to reinforce governance structures and ensure the efficient management of public institutions. Governor Yusuf urged the beneficiaries to justify the confidence reposed in them through diligence, transparency and unwavering commitment to the Kano First Agenda.
The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) has issued a public alert over a fraudulent LinkedIn account impersonating its Director-General, Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, urging Nigerians to disregard and report any communication linked to the fake profile.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Institute’s Media Consultant, Mr Sam Eferaro, NIMR disclosed that the impostor account has been sending misleading messages to unsuspecting individuals, falsely offering procurement opportunities, contracts and other business-related engagements.
According to the statement, the attention of the Institute was drawn to the existence of the fake LinkedIn profile posing as the Director-General, adding that all messages emanating from the account are entirely fraudulent.
NIMR cautioned members of the public against engaging with any messages purportedly sent by Professor Obafunwa through LinkedIn or other unofficial platforms, particularly those soliciting business dealings or financial commitments.
The Institute further emphasised that all legitimate interactions with vendors, contractors, partners and the public are conducted strictly through recognised and official institutional channels, in line with established public service procedures.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has dismissed calls by the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria demanding the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, over comments he allegedly made concerning genocide.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, the PFN described the demand as unfounded and unjustifiable, stressing that Prof. Amupitan, like every Nigerian, is constitutionally entitled to express opinions on matters of national interest, regardless of his public office.
The Fellowship maintained that the remarks attributed to the INEC chairman had no link to his official duties, noting that they were unrelated to elections or electoral processes, which fall within the scope of his professional responsibilities.
“We strongly oppose such calls because Prof. Amupitan, as a citizen of Nigeria, has the right to speak on issues he perceives as affecting the nation, irrespective of his appointment or position,” the statement said.
PFN further condemned suggestions that the INEC chairman should be removed on the basis of personal views expressed outside his official mandate, warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent where public officials are penalised for holding or expressing independent opinions.
The organisation also cautioned against interpreting national discourse through religious perspectives, arguing that such an approach risks deepening societal divisions and threatening peaceful coexistence.
“We must guard against profiling individuals or judging them based on religious considerations. Prof. Amupitan has the right to express his views, and this should not come at the expense of his office,” the statement added.
The Fellowship urged stakeholders to exercise restraint and mutual respect in addressing sensitive national issues, emphasising that unity, fairness, and peaceful engagement must remain central to public discourse.
PFN reaffirmed its commitment to justice and national cohesion, calling on Nigerians to uphold democratic values in responding to differing opinions on matters affecting the country.