- US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Cory Booker condemned Uganda’s January 15, 2026 election as undemocratic, citing harassment of journalists and ilegal detention of opposition leaders
- They criticised President Museveni’s government for shutting down the internet and warned that such actions violate citizens’ rights to free expression
- Calling on President Trump to act, the senators urged Washington to hold Ugandan officials accountable, even suggesting a review of US security assistance
Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
The recent political events in Uganda have drawn the attention of lawmakers in the United States of America (USA).
Source: Twitter
Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Cory Booker called on the administration in Washington to intervene and hold accountable members of the Ugandan government accused of violating the civic rights of opposition figures and citizens in the recent vote.
Why US senators want Trump to act on Uganda
Shaheen and Booker argued that the January 15, 2026, Ugandan election was a distortion of democracy and failed to meet the standards of a free and fair process.
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“Uganda’s January 15th election was another blow to the pursuit of democracy in the country. Unfortunately, these elections mirrored previous electoral contests in Uganda, where the playing field was skewed, and the results were decided well before the actual vote,” part of their statement read.
The senators highlighted harassment and attacks on journalists, the detention of opposition leaders, and the use of tear gas against citizens protesting the conduct of the election.
They also condemned President Yoweri Museveni’s government for shutting down the internet, describing it as a blatant violation of citizens’ rights to freedom of expression.
The prolonged detention of Kizza Besigye and threats issued by Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) Chief of Defence Forces Muhoozi Kainerugaba against opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi further alarmed the senators.
What US senators want Trump to do to Uganda
They stressed that Ugandan officials are obligated to uphold democratic governance, transparency, human rights, and the dignity of their people.
Both senators, members of the Democratic Party, called on Trump to take action against those responsible for violating civic rights during the campaign and election period.
“The Trump Administration and US State Department must use all tools available, including a review of US security assistance, to hold individuals in Uganda accountable for undermining democratic principles and endangering the lives of citizens seeking to freely participate in the election,” the senators stated.
Earlier, the US Embassy in Kampala had issued a security advisory to its citizens, citing reports of security forces using tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds, while official presidential results remained unannounced.
The Embassy urged American nationals to exercise extreme caution and avoid large public gatherings across Uganda.
Museveni was declared the winner of Uganda’s presidential election on January 17, securing a seventh term and extending his rule to over 40 years.
How Yoweri Museveni retained his seat
The announcement underscored the veteran leader’s continued dominance in a political climate defined by heavy security measures and an internet blackout.
According to the Electoral Commission, Museveni won the January 15 vote with 7,944,772 votes, representing 71.61% of valid ballots.
His closest challenger, National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, garnered 2,741,238 votes, or 24.72%.
Source: Twitter
The results once again highlighted the uphill battle faced by opposition candidates against a president who has held power since 1986.
Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama announced the final results at the National Tallying Centre, noting they were declared in line with the Ugandan constitution and the Presidential Elections Act.
He reported that votes were tallied from 50,739 polling stations nationwide, with 21,649,067 registered voters. Out of 11,366,201 ballots cast, turnout stood at 52.50%, while 275,353 ballots, 2.42% of the total, were invalid.
Byabakama confirmed that Museveni had surpassed the constitutional threshold by securing more than half of all valid votes, officially declaring him president-elect.
He stressed that the voting process had been completed and results lawfully tallied in accordance with constitutional and electoral provisions.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
