Museveni Declares Victory As Opposition Leader Reports Raid and Abduction

Yoweri Museveni has declared victory in a disputed Ugandan presidential election, a result that would give him a seventh term and extend his rule to 40 years.

A police officer guards empty ballot boxes in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, on Wednesday - Luis Tato/AFP via Getty

Violence, Internet Shutdown and Abduction Claims

The vote was marred by violence, an internet shutdown and claims from opposition leader and former pop star Robert 'Bobi Wine' Kyagulanyi that military forces entered his home and abducted him. Mr Museveni said on Saturday he had won almost 72% of Thursday’s ballot, with Mr Wine taking nearly 25%.

Bobi Wine, the pop singer opposition leader whose real name is Robert Ssentamu, casts his vote in the election - Brian Inganga/AP

Bobi Wine Says He Fled A Raid

Mr Wine, who has styled himself the 'ghetto president' in reference to the slum areas of Kampala where he grew up, posted on X that he had escaped a police and army raid and was on the run while his wife and other family members remained under what he described as house arrest. Hours earlier his party had said he was 'forcibly taken' from his residence by helicopter.

Supporters of Mr Museveni, who is popular with some for overseeing a period of relative political stability - Luis Tato/AFP via Getty

'I know that these criminals are looking for me everywhere, and I am trying my best to keep safe,' Mr Wine said.

Clashes and Arrests

Throughout the campaign Mr Wine’s rallies were repeatedly broken up by government security forces, who used tear gas and fired live rounds; at least one person was killed and many opposition supporters were detained. Observers from the African Union and other regional bodies did not independently verify allegations of ballot-stuffing but reported hearing 'reports of intimidation, arrest and abductions' targeting opposition figures and civil society groups.

Disputed Casualty Figures

Police said seven people were killed and three injured in central Uganda in post-poll clashes when officers fired on what they described as opposition 'goons' allegedly sent by Muwanga Kivumbi, an MP from Mr Wine’s party. Mr Kivumbi denied that account and said instead that 10 of his campaign agents had been killed when security forces stormed his home.

Museveni’s Long Rule and Political Control

Mr Museveni has been in power since 1986 and has consolidated tight control over government institutions and the security services. He has twice amended the constitution to remove age and term limits, and this week’s election was widely viewed by critics as largely a formality. Supporters, however, credit him with bringing relative stability to Uganda and with regional security contributions such as sending troops to operations in Somalia and hosting millions of refugees.

Official Response: Ugandan police denied that Mr Wine had been seized or had fled, saying he remained at home and that the deployments around his residence were necessary because the area was of 'security interest'. Election observers urged calm while noting reports of intimidation. Both the announced results and the competing claims have heightened tensions across the country as international and domestic scrutiny continues.