Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of Thursday’s presidential election, extending his rule by another five years and taking his time in power to four decades.

The Electoral Commission announced that Museveni secured 72% of the vote, while his main challenger, opposition leader Bobi Wine, received 25%. Wine rejected the outcome, denouncing what he described as “fake results” and alleging ballot stuffing, though he has provided no evidence to support the claims. Authorities have not directly responded to the allegations.

African Union election observers said they saw “no evidence of ballot stuffing” but raised concerns about the overall conduct of the polls. Wine has called on his supporters to stage non-violent protests.

Museveni, 81, first came to power in 1986 after leading a rebel movement and has since won seven elections. He has portrayed himself as a guarantor of stability in a country with a history of conflict.

The election period was marked by violence and heavy security deployments. Wine, a 43-year-old former pop star who has mobilized strong youth support, said at least 21 people were killed in election-related incidents in recent days. Authorities have confirmed seven deaths so far.

Announcing the results, Electoral Commission Chairperson Simon Byabakama urged supporters of all candidates to accept the outcome and embrace national unity.

In the capital, Kampala, celebrations were muted. Many roads were empty and businesses closed, although reports of sporadic violence emerged from several neighborhoods.

Internet access has been shut down nationwide since Tuesday, complicating efforts to independently verify developments. The government said the blackout was imposed to prevent misinformation, fraud, and the incitement of violence. The move was condemned by the United Nations human rights office as “deeply worrying.” Wine has demanded the immediate restoration of internet services.

Leading the African Union observer mission, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan called on the Ugandan government to refrain from suspending internet access around elections. He also criticized reports of intimidation, arrests, and abductions, saying they instilled fear and undermined public confidence in the electoral process.

Tensions escalated further after Wine’s assistant, Dan Magic, claimed that security personnel entered the opposition leader’s home on Thursday night in an attempt to seize him. Wine had earlier said he was under house arrest and later posted on Facebook that he had evaded an attempt to detain him. Police have not confirmed these accounts.

Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke said Wine’s movements were restricted because his residence was considered an area of “security interest,” adding that authorities had controlled access to locations deemed security hotspots to prevent unrest.

Wine has positioned himself as the voice of Uganda’s youth, in a country where the majority of the population is under 30. His campaign focused on promises to fight corruption and implement sweeping reforms. Security forces have been accused of disrupting opposition activities and assaulting or detaining Wine’s supporters—allegations the police have denied, instead accusing opposition backers of being disruptive.

Six other candidates contested the election, none securing more than 2% of the vote. Voter turnout was reported at 52.5%. (ILKHA)