Ugandan activists dejected over homophobic Museveni’s grip on power
Ugandan human rights activists are trying to come to grips with the declaration that President Yoweri Museveni easily won re-election last week after a bloody campaign that included him claiming that homosexuals were backing his opponent.
According to Uganda’s Electoral Commisssion, the incumbent won 5.85 million votes to 3.48 million for challenger Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi).
Several LGBTQ+ rights activists shared a facetious message to Museveni:
“Congratulations to Uganda President Yoweri Museveni on winning re-election after murdering, imprisoning & silencing opponents, shutting down the internet, and committing widespread voter fraud.”
The post-election mood among activists was captured by the headline “Fear and Resignation in Uganda After Disputed Election Results”.
Africa Elections Watch, a coalition of civil society groups, said the Jan. 14 vote did not “meet the threshold of a democratic, free, fair, transparent and credible electoral process”. The organization had 3,000 observers watching over the election.
In the wake of the election, Wine was confined to his home, which was guarded by security forces.
Wine said he was not being allowed to leave his house, could not see visitors and was “worried about my life and the life of my wife”.
U.S. Ambassador Natalie E. Brown unsuccessfully tried to visit Wine today — an action that the Ugandan regime claimed was an attempt to subvert the election results.
Internet access was suspended from Jan. 13 to 18. When it was restored, activists shared claims of election fraud and rumors that Wine would be killed.
