US Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) has slammed Uganda’s recent elections as ‘hollow’ and called for sanctions on General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, citing human rights abuses and destabilizing regional activities. Risch, who is the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, also urged the Donald Trump Administration to reassess the US security relationship with Uganda.
Museveni won the election with 71.65% of the votes, but Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) has rejected the results, alleging widespread irregularities.
Additionally, presidential candidate Robert Kasibante has challenged Museveni’s victory in the Supreme Court, citing electoral offences and unlawful acts.
Official Results
– Yoweri Museveni (NRM) – 7,946,772 votes (71.65%)
– Robert Kyagulanyi (NUP) – 2,741,238 votes (24.72%)
– Nathan Nandala Mafabi (FDC) – 209,039 votes (1.88%)
– Gregory Mugisha Muntu (ANT) – 59,276 votes (0.53%)
– Frank Bulira (RPP) – 45,959 votes (0.41%)
– Robert Kasibante (NPP) – 33,440 votes (0.30%)
– Mubarak Munyagwa (CMP) – 31,666 votes (0.29%)
– Joseph Mabirizi (CP) – 23,458 votes (0.21%)
Risch’s statement highlights concerns about Uganda’s regional influence and the potential impact on upcoming elections in Ethiopia and Kenya.
Here’s Senator Jim Risch’s full statement:
U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee | statement below on Uganda’s recent elections
“Uganda’s elections – like the recent elections in Tanzania – were a hollow exercise, staged to legitimize President Yoweri Museveni’s seventh term and four decades in power.
But even more so than Tanzania, Uganda is a key regional security partner to the United States. Yet, its ruling regime prioritizes domestic control through political violence, abductions, imprisonment, intimidation of opponents, and the misuse of state resources to maintain its grip on power.
Uganda is also linked to destabilizing regional activities, including in South Sudan—making the regime an increasingly problematic exporter of instability.
Tanzania and Uganda are moving along similar paths, raising serious concerns about what this portends for other countries with upcoming elections, including Ethiopia and Kenya.
I applaud how the Trump Administration is pursuing commercial and security gains in the region, but I’m concerned this will be increasingly difficult to do given the current trajectory. As with Tanzania, the administration should reassess the U.S. security relationship with Uganda, beginning with a review of whether sanctions are warranted under existing authorities against specific actors, including General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.”
Muhoozi has claimed the killing of “NUP terrorists” and arrests of opposition supporters, describing them as hooligans and terrorists.
Bobi Wine is currently in hiding. His home was raided by police and security personnel following the disputed election. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s army chief and Museveni’s son, had given Bobi Wine a 48-hour ultimatum to surrender. Bobi Wine is still defiant.
Bobi Wine Deputies’ Woes: Army Says It’s Unaware of Lina Zedriga Whereabouts as Muwanga Kivumbi Remanded Over Terrorism
Meanwhile, the National Unity Platform (NUP) party is facing challenges, with two of its key deputies dealing with different issues. Muwanga Kivumbi, the deputy president for Buganda, has been remanded until February 3, 2026, over terrorism charges related to attacks on police stations and electoral commission offices in Butambala District. The attacks resulted in seven deaths and damage to several vehicles.
Meanwhile, Dr. Zedriga Lina Waru Abuku, the deputy president for Northern Uganda, is reportedly missing, with her family claiming she was arrested by joint security forces on January 15, 2026. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has denied detaining her, saying there is no record of her arrest. Also missing is Jacklyn Tukamushaba, the deputy president for Western Uganda.
Muwanga Kivumbi’s Story
Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the outgoing Member of Parliament for Butambala and Vice President of the National Unity Platform (NUP) for Buganda, has been charged with terrorism and remanded until February 3, 2026.
Kivumbi appeared before Butambala Chief Magistrate Deogratius Ssejjemba on January 23, 2026, where he was formally charged with terrorism, alongside other suspects who are still at large. The State Attorney, Rachael Bikhole, told the court that Kivumbi and others allegedly committed the crimes between January 11 and January 17, 2026, in Kibibi Town Council and Gombe Town Council in Butambala District.
They allegedly coordinated attacks on Kibibi Police Station, Butambala Police Station, and Electoral Commission offices. These attacks resulted in damage to several vehicles.
Vehicles Damaged
– Toyota Land Cruiser (UBM 614Q)
– Ford double cabin (UBH 333U)
– Subaru (UBQ 496Z)
– Toyota Raum (UAV 378H)
– Toyota Spacio (UAQ 033X)
Casualties: Seven people lost their lives, including Sarah Naggayi, Aisha Nabukenya, Milly Nampereza, Ruth Nakanjako, Nsamu Abdulnoor, Shafik Miiro, and Davis Basaliza.
The prosecution alleges these acts were intended to intimidate the government and public for political gain. Kivumbi’s phone was withheld as an exhibit, and he’s been remanded to Kitalya Prison until February 3, 2026.
Chief Magistrate Ssejjemba granted Kivumbi a one-hour adjournment to consult with his lawyers before remanding him to prison. The case is expected to resume on February 3, 2026.
UPDF Denies Detaining NUP’s Zedriga
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has denied detaining Dr. Zedriga Lina Waru Abuku, the National Unity Platform (NUP) deputy president for Northern Uganda. This denial comes after Zedriga’s family claimed she was arrested by joint security forces and has been detained incommunicado since January 15, 2026.
In an affidavit filed by the Attorney General, Lt Col Edgar Musasizi, the Director of Civil Affairs at the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, stated that the claim of detention is “false, speculative, and unfounded”. He added that there is no record of any operation involving Zedriga’s arrest by UPDF or Directorate of Defence Intelligence and Security (formerly CMI) operatives.
The UPDF also disputes allegations that security officers contacted Zedriga’s family after her arrest, saying there is no proof connecting them to the alleged call. According to the affidavit, Zedriga’s family reported her disappearance at Kasangati Police Station, but they’ve received no information about her whereabouts or condition.
Zedriga’s personal assistant, Lemi Frank John Bosco, claims she was arrested at her residence in Kyetume B, Gayaza, Wakiso District, on January 15, 2026, around 7:40 pm. The UPDF, however, maintains that the habeas corpus application is unsupported by evidence and is misconceived.
The case is expected to resume on Wednesday, with the court awaiting a status report from the Uganda Police Force. Justice Joyce Kavuma adjourned the matter to allow police to file a response.
Meanwhile, Bobi Wine says his home was attacked by soldiers in the night and his wife isolated, as reported Here.
Bobi Wine has revealed his next plan, answering questions on his call for protests, challenging results in the Supreme Court, and his hiding, as detailed Here.
And as the US senator calls on President Donald Trump to do something about Uganda, Russia’s Vladimiri Putin has embraced Museveni, as reported Here.
It should also be remembered that Senator Risch and other pro-Bobi Wine senators have previously warned Muhoozi, and pushed for the review of relations between Uganda and the US. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
