Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has rejected the presidential election results announced by the Electoral Commission, alleging widespread fraud, ballot stuffing and a violent security crackdown targeting him, his family and members of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Announcing the results on Saturday evening, Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama said Museveni had secured a decisive victory.
According to the final results released by the Commission, Museveni polled 7,946,722 votes, representing 71.65 per cent of the total votes cast. The Electoral Commission said a total of 11,662,201 votes were cast nationwide.
In a series of statements shared on social media, Kyagulanyi posted a video he claims shows Electoral Commission officials ticking ballot papers in favour of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at a polling station in western Uganda.
“Video showing Electoral Commission officials ticking all ballot papers in favor of Museveni at a polling station in western Uganda,” Kyagulanyi wrote. “This is what Museveni and his criminal system call an election! We campaigned. We voted. We tried to protect our vote but the criminals arrested or abducted many of our agents and officials.”
Kyagulanyi said the opposition had anticipated manipulation of the electoral process and described participation in the polls as a form of protest.
“The only recourse is for the people of Uganda to reclaim their voice. That is why we called this a protest vote,” he said, urging supporters to continue submitting what he described as evidence of electoral malpractice.
“We reject the fake results. Those who make democracy impossible make resistance inevitable.”
Earlier, Kyagulanyi accused Electoral Commission chairperson Simon Byabakama of announcing results without transparency.
“Ignore the fake results being announced by Byabakama. He can’t tell anybody where those results are coming from,” Kyagulanyi said. “Our agents at the tally centre are asking him for the source of these results, and the regime enabler can’t say a thing.”
The opposition leader also alleged that security forces moved to place him under house arrest shortly after he cast his vote.
“After casting my ballot, the military deployed all around my home in order to place me under house arrest,” he said. “These criminals even jumped over the fence and entered our compound. My house is still besieged — no one allowed to come in or go out.”
In a later detailed statement, Kyagulanyi described what he said were dramatic overnight events at his residence in Magere.
“Last night was very difficult at our home in Magere. The military and police raided us. They switched off power and cut off some of our CCTV cameras. There were helicopters hovering over,” he said.
“I want to confirm that I managed to escape from them. Currently, I am not at home, although my wife and other family members remain under house arrest.”
Kyagulanyi said confusion about his whereabouts arose amid a nationwide internet shutdown and heavy security deployment around his home.
“Given the commotion that happened at our house at night, and given that no one is allowed to access the house, our neighbours concluded that they had succeeded in abducting us and spread the news,” he said.
The NUP leader further alleged violent attacks against party officials and supporters, including claims that several supporters were killed during a security operation at the home of Buganda Deputy President Muwanga Kivumbi.
“The criminal regime in its evening has gone insane,” Kyagulanyi said, accusing security forces of abducting and attacking senior party officials across different regions.
He condemned what he described as the killing of citizens attempting to protest peacefully and insisted Ugandans have a right to defend their democratic choice.
“The people of Uganda have the right to protest in defence of their sovereign right to determine a government of their choice,” he said. “Aside from the blatant theft of the presidential election, these criminals have employed various fraudulent techniques to usurp the will of the people in numerous constituencies.”
Kyagulanyi concluded by reaffirming his confidence in popular resistance. “The people of Uganda will ultimately win,” he said.
The Electoral Commission has maintained that the elections were conducted in accordance with the law, while security agencies have previously dismissed claims that Kyagulanyi is under arrest.
Political tension remains high as competing narratives continue to emerge in the aftermath of the polls.
