Bloodshed and repression as Museveni wins

Members of Uganda’s police force and the Ugandan army patrol the streets in formation two days after the country’s 2026 presidential election. [AFP]

The death of at least 20 people, police violence through the use tear gas, live bullets and repression of opposition candidates and their supporters rocked Uganda as President Yoweri Museveni was re-elected in polls for his seventh term in office.

When Uganda’s Electoral Commission Chairman, Justice Simon Byabakama, took to the podium to declare Museveni the winner of the presidential poll, it was not a surprise to many because the elections were perceived to be not free, fair and verifiable.