Jan 17, 2026, 3:54 p.mJan 17, 2026, 3:54 p.m
Yoweri Museveni is 81 and has been President of Uganda for 40 years. (Archive image, April 2025)Image: www.imago-images.de
In Uganda, the incumbent Yoweri Museveni won the presidential election with a large majority, according to the state electoral commission. Accordingly, the 81-year-old head of state received 71 percent of the votesthe commission said. Museveni will begin a seventh five-year term in office. His closest rival, former musician Bobi Wine, followed with 24 percent of the vote.
Wine made allegations of election manipulation. “The results are fake and do not in any way reflect what happened at the polling stations,” said Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, in a video message on X.
Shortly before, the 44-year-old had announced that he had escaped a kidnapping attempt by state security forces on Friday evening and was now in hiding. Wine is particularly popular among young voters, who make up the majority of registered voters.
Internet blockade and repression
During the election campaign, critics pointed out repression against opposition candidates and their supporters. In the East African country with around 50 million inhabitants, the internet has been blocked and access to social media has been blocked since Tuesday evening. The government also prohibits journalists from reporting on any protests and unrest. The UN Human Rights Commissioner expressed concern about “unacceptable restrictions” on the opposition by state security forces.
For Germany, Uganda is above all an important partner in development cooperation, with a focus on renewable energies, energy efficiency and agriculture. The Federal Republic imports coffee, tea and fish from Uganda, while the East African country imports machinery and chemical products from Germany. (sda/dpa)