Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has accused opposition politicians of engaging in terrorism and attempting to overturn the outcome of last week’s presidential election through violence, following his victory for a seventh term at the age of 81.
Speaking after official results showed him securing 72 per cent of the vote, Museveni said members of the opposition, particularly the National Unity Platform, had planned attacks on polling stations in areas where they were losing.
He alleged that some opposition figures were working with foreign interests and warned that security agencies were aware of their activities and would prevent any attempt to destabilise the country.
The election has drawn criticism from African election observers and rights groups, who cited heavy repression of the opposition and an internet shutdown imposed ahead of the vote.
The whereabouts of opposition candidate Bobi Wine, who officially scored 25 per cent, remained unclear after he said he narrowly escaped a police raid on his home and went into hiding.
While the government maintained restrictions on social media, security officials said the country remained largely calm, despite reports of isolated protests and alleged killings in central Uganda, which authorities said resulted from an attempted attack on a tallying centre.
Human rights groups and election observers said reports of intimidation, arrests and abductions undermined public confidence in the electoral process.