President Museveni Is a “Marked Man,” U.S. Senators Say After Contested Uganda Vote
Two U.S. senators accused Uganda’s government of undermining democracy after the country’s January 15, 2026 election, urging Washington to consider punitive measures and demanding the release of jailed opposition figures.
Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D‑NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Cory Booker (D‑NJ), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, issued a joint statement characterizing the vote as “another blow to the pursuit of democracy” in Uganda and saying the contest “mirrored previous electoral contests… where the playing field was skewed, and the results decided well before the actual vote.”
The senators listed a series of alleged rights abuses in the run‑up to the election: attacks on journalists, jailing of opposition figures, tear gassing of peaceful assemblies, reported abductions of opposition members and candidates, and violence by security forces. They also highlighted a last‑minute nationwide internet blackout that, they said, “further undermined Ugandan citizens’ rights to freedom of expression enshrined in its constitution.”
Shaheen and Booker singled out Defence Minister Muhoozi Kainerugaba for concern, citing his “continued threats against opposition figures including Bobi Wine.” They called for the immediate release of opposition leader Dr. Kizza Besigye and human rights activist Dr. Sarah Bireete, and urged that operating permits for civil society organizations be restored.
“The Trump Administration and U.S. State Department must use all tools available, including a review of U.S. 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 said.
President Yoweri Museveni, who has led Uganda for decades, once again faced international criticism following an election whose legitimacy was disputed by opponents and rights groups. The U.S. statement did not include any immediate comment from Ugandan authorities, and there was no immediate indication that Washington had taken steps to change aid or security cooperation.
The senators’ statement adds to growing international scrutiny of Uganda’s political environment and could bolster calls for accountability and greater diplomatic pressure if corroborated by independent election observers and human rights organizations.