Musician-turned-politician rejects ‘fake results’ in Uganda election

WorldPolitics
18 Jan 2026 • 12:14 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni secured his seventh term in office with 71.65 per cent of the vote, according to official results.
  • His main challenger, musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine (Kyagulanyi Ssentamu), received 24.72 per cent and has rejected the results, alleging fraud.
  • Wine claimed there was "massive ballot stuffing" and that his polling agents were abducted, urging Ugandans to protest peacefully.
  • The election was marred by an internet shutdown and the failure of biometric voter identification machines, particularly in opposition strongholds, leading to manual registration.
  • Museveni, 81, has maintained power for decades by removing term and age limits, with Uganda having never experienced a peaceful transfer of presidential power since its independence.

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