\n \u201cWe know that all (institutions of the state) are up against us \u2013 the military, the police\u2026 But it is clear that the people of Uganda are standing firm behind the positive change that I am leading.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n While the election is seen as primarily a contest between Museveni and Wine, there are six other candidates, including prominent lawyer Nandala Mafabi.\n <\/p>\n
\n Mafabi, 59, attracted large crowds in parts of Uganda, where he promised to manage the country\u2019s resources prudently and campaigned with the slogan, \u201cFixing the economy; money in our pockets.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n Museveni\u2019s ruling National Resistance Movement party has altered Ugandan laws<\/a> to help him maintain power, including the removal of age and term limits for the presidency. After securing a fifth term in 2016, he told the BBC that \u201cwe don\u2019t believe in (presidential) term limits.\u201d He has faced repeated criticism for suppressing opposition rallies and cracking down on anti-government protests.\n <\/p>\n \n On Tuesday, just two days before the vote, Ugandan authorities implemented a nationwide internet blackout and restricted mobile services, similar to actions taken during the previous election.\n <\/p>\n \n In the lead-up to the 2021 election, violent clashes resulted in dozens of deaths. The European Union Council of Ministers highlighted widespread issues with the electoral process at the time, noting internet blackouts, harassment of opposition leaders, and media suppression, including raids on observer offices.\n <\/p>\n \n In the run-up to Thursday\u2019s vote, chaotic scenes resurfaced, with CNN witnessing security forces using violence against Wine and his supporters at rallies. Wine has characterized the election as a \u201cwar,\u201d citing the imprisonment of hundreds of his mainly young supporters.\n <\/p>\n \n The Ugandan police deny any intention to target Wine or his supporters. However, last week, authorities imposed restrictions on live broadcasts of riots and \u201cunlawful processions.\u201d Museveni encouraged security forces to use tear gas instead of live ammunition to disperse what he labeled as \u201cthe criminal opposition.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n The UN Human Rights Office raised concerns about \u201cwidespread repression and intimidation against the political opposition, human rights defenders, journalists.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Presidential hopeful Mafabi told CNN he had been \u201ctargeted by police\u201d several times. He recounted one such incident in Amudat, a town in northeastern Uganda, where his car came under gunfire. \u201cChallenging Museveni comes with a lot of risks,\u201d Mafabi said.\n <\/p>\n \n CNN has contacted police authorities for comment.\n <\/p>\n \n About 21.6 million Ugandans are registered to vote, making up less than half of the country\u2019s population of over 45 million, according to the electoral commission. Notably, nearly half of Uganda\u2019s population is under the age of 18, the voting age.\n <\/p>\n \n Recent polls indicate that corruption and unemployment remain voters\u2019 top concerns. Uganda is grappling with significant government corruption, with approximately Sh. 10 trillion ($2.7 billion) in public funds misappropriated annually, according to the Inspectorate of Government, the nation\u2019s anti-corruption agency.\n <\/p>\n \n Additionally, data released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics in September revealed that nearly half of the country\u2019s youth population, aged 18 to 30, is unemployed, uneducated, or lacking training. This age group makes up over 23% of Uganda\u2019s total population.\n <\/p>\n \n Analysts believe that many potential voters are yearning for new leadership. \u201cClearly, everybody wants to see a different government,\u201d stated Yusuf Serunkuma, a columnist for the Ugandan Observer newspaper and a researcher at Makerere University in Kampala, the country\u2019s capital.\n <\/p>\n \n While the desire for change is widespread, \u201cthe government has a firm hold on any space where change might come from,\u201d he added.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThere\u2019s zero chance,\u201d Serunkuma said of Wine\u2019s chances of gaining the presidency. He told CNN that Uganda\u2019s opposition is hampered by ineffective organizational structures.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThe government has put in place measures to make sure that the incumbent is declared winner,\u201d he claimed, alluding to the alleged influence the government has over the electoral commission.\n <\/p>\n \n Simon Mulongo, a former lawmaker and ex-African Union envoy, echoed Serunkuma\u2019s prediction about the election outcomes.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cBobi Wine has emerged as a powerful symbol of generational aspiration. However, winning national power requires more than symbolism,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt demands deep organizational structures, nationwide coordination, and the capacity to secure and protect votes across rural and urban areas.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Wine came to prominence in the early 2000s for his vibrant dancehall music, which often addressed social injustices. His rise to global recognition came in the 2010s when his song \u201cKiwani\u201d featured in the soundtrack of the Disney film Queen of Katwe (2016).<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n Despite his popularity, Wine has faced backlash for some of his past lyrics, including homophobic messages advocating for the \u201cbanning and killing of all homosexuals.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n It led to a 10-year ban on his entry into the United Kingdom, which was lifted in 2023.\n <\/p>\n \n Following a trip to the UK two years ago, Wine publicly renounced his previous beliefs, telling supporters that \u201cpeople grow and transform\u201d.\n <\/p>\n![\"Workers](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/africa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/c-2026-01-08t150558z-1970363091-rc2xwiazxvgr-rtrmadp-3-uganda-politics.jpg\")
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