Museveni sworn in for seventh term after disputed January election
Museveni sworn in for a seventh term after a disputed January election, amid internet blackouts, reports of abductions, arrests and clashes that shook Uganda.
Swearing-in ceremony in Kampala
Yoweri Museveni was formally sworn in at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala on May 12, 2026, extending a four-decade rule that began in 1986. Thousands attended the ceremony as security forces maintained a visible presence around the grounds and the president arrived amid a tightly managed event. The inauguration marks the start of Museveni’s seventh term after the vote in January, a result that the government has defended as legitimate while opponents and rights groups say the process was marred.
Election result and official tallies
Uganda’s Electoral Commission announced that Museveni secured 71.65 percent of the vote in the January ballot, with opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi — known as Bobi Wine — receiving 24.72 percent. The commission’s figures were presented as final results and used to validate the inauguration timetable. The dispute over those tallies and the conduct of the vote has left a portion of the electorate questioning the credibility of the outcome and the integrity of institutions overseeing elections.
Opposition allegations and campaign suppression
Opposition leaders and human rights organisations reported a campaign environment that included an internet blackout, arrests, and instances of enforced disappearances that critics say targeted National Unity Platform activists. Bobi Wine and his supporters accused state security of intimidation and alleged “massive” ballot tampering after the polls, claims that have been denied by government officials. Human Rights Watch and other monitors documented what they described as intensified actions against opposition figures in the aftermath of the vote, underscoring wider concerns about political space in Uganda.
Violence in Butambala and disputed casualty figures
The post-election period was punctuated by violent incidents in several districts, most notably an attack around the home of a local opposition lawmaker in Butambala that left multiple people dead. Opposition sources said 10 people were killed during security operations, while authorities reported seven fatalities and said those deaths followed an assault on a police station and a vote-counting centre. The conflicting accounts of events and the limited independent access to some areas have complicated efforts to produce a single, authoritative narrative of what occurred.
Constitutional changes and decades in power
Since assuming power in 1986, Museveni has overseen two constitutional amendments that eliminated presidential term and age limits, moves that paved the way for his continued candidacy. Supporters point to periods of economic growth and relative stability after years of turmoil in the decades following independence, crediting his government with infrastructural development and security improvements. Critics counter that extended personal rule has weakened democratic checks and concentrated power in the executive, a dynamic that has intensified debate about governance and accountability in Uganda.
Succession questions and regional implications
With Museveni now in another term, attention has shifted to the question of who might eventually succeed him, with his son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, frequently cited by analysts as a likely contender. The possibility of a dynastic handover has stirred unease among opposition forces and some regional observers, who warn that unresolved tensions and restrictions on political freedoms could affect stability. Regional governments and international partners have called for restraint and dialogue, while also urging respect for human rights and transparent processes as Uganda navigates this transition.
The inauguration of Museveni for a seventh term closes one chapter and opens another in Uganda’s political trajectory, reinforcing existing divisions and raising fresh questions about the country’s democratic institutions. As the new term begins, domestic actors and international observers will be watching how Kampala addresses allegations of repression, ensures accountability for post-election violence, and balances governance with calls for broader political inclusion.