Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has outlined his post-election priorities, with a renewed focus on poverty eradication, economic transformation, and national stability, following his decisive victory in Uganda’s presidential election.
In his maiden address after being declared winner of the January polls, President Museveni accused the opposition of attempting to undermine the electoral process through foreign-backed financing and voter bribery. He claimed the strategy involved distributing UGX 10,000 to voters but said it ultimately failed.
“The opposition were lucky because 10 million of my people did not turn up. They would have been embarrassed badly,” Museveni said, adding that government would investigate the reasons behind voter absenteeism.
Museveni also alleged that some members of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) who had planned to incite unrest—similar to riots witnessed in Kenya last year—opted instead to cooperate with the government. He said these individuals reported their intentions to him and chose to work with the state.
The President credited Uganda’s security forces for maintaining peace throughout the electoral process and extended gratitude to religious and cultural leaders for their role in promoting stability and unity.
“I want to thank the armed forces for maintaining peace, religious leaders for praying for this victory, and the cultural leaders who are very responsive and work for peace,” he said.
Museveni emphasised that Uganda’s stability is not sustained by security agencies alone but by patriotic citizens who refuse to be manipulated into violence or political destabilisation.
Turning to the economy, the President outlined two key development tracks for his new term: supporting wealth creators already participating in the money economy, and lifting the remaining 30 per cent of households out of poverty.
He noted that 70 per cent of Ugandans are now engaged in the money economy and contribute taxes that finance national development and social services. Ending poverty, Museveni stressed, is not only a social obligation but a national security imperative.
“Poverty exposes people to manipulation, vote-buying, and political exploitation,” he said, describing economic empowerment as central to safeguarding democracy and stability.
Museveni was officially declared the winner of the presidential election on Saturday, securing 71.65 per cent of the vote. His closest challenger, National Unity Platform leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, garnered 25 per cent.
The President is expected to unveil detailed policy directions for his next term in the coming weeks.
