Ugandan Military Says Thousands Detained and Dozens ed After Disputed Presidential Election

Uganda’s military chief has said authorities detained about 2,000 opposition supporters and ed at least 30 others following a disputed presidential election that granted President Yoweri Museveni a seventh term in office.

In a series of posts published overnight on Friday on the social media platform X, army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba described supporters of opposition leader Bobi Wine as terrorists and said security forces were continuing operations against them.

“So far we have ed 30 NUP terrorists,” Kainerugaba wrote, referring to Wine’s National Unity Platform, without providing details on how the deaths occurred. He added that most opposition leaders were in hiding and claimed security forces would pursue them.

President Museveni, 81, who has ruled Uganda for nearly four decades, was declared the winner of the January 15 election. The vote took place amid a nationwide internet blackout, which limited independent reporting and communication across the country.

Wine, a former pop star whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, rejected the election results, alleging widespread irregularities including ballot stuffing and intimidation. Following the announcement of the results, he went into hiding, citing concerns for his safety.

The government has accused Wine’s supporters of inciting violence during the election period, while the opposition says its members were targeted by security forces before, during and after the vote.

Police declined to provide further comment on the military chief’s statements, and the armed forces did not immediately respond to requests for clarification.

The reported ings and mass detentions have drawn international concern, with human rights groups and foreign observers warning that the crackdown risks deepening political repression and undermining democratic processes in the country.