Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of the country’s general election, securing a seventh term in office and extending his rule to more than four decades. The Electoral Commission announced that Museveni won 72% of the vote, defeating his main challenger, opposition leader Bobi Wine, who garnered 25% in the tightly watched contest.

In his victory speech on Sunday, Museveni accused the opposition of attempting to destabilize the country, describing them as “terrorists” who sought to use violence to overturn the election outcome. He specifically alleged that Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) had planned attacks on polling stations in areas where they were losing support, claims that the opposition strongly denies.

Bobi Wine, a popular musician turned politician whose real name is Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, rejected the results, condemning them as “fake” and alleging widespread ballot stuffing and electoral fraud. His party said the vote was marred by intimidation, arrests of opposition supporters, and restrictions on campaigning, allegations that the government has repeatedly dismissed.

Museveni, who first came to power in 1986 after a guerrilla war, has dominated Uganda’s political landscape for decades, overseeing periods of economic growth but also facing mounting criticism over democratic backsliding, human rights abuses, and restrictions on political freedoms. Previous elections under his leadership have similarly been contested, drawing concern from international observers and rights groups.

The latest result is expected to deepen political tensions in the East African nation, as opposition supporters question the credibility of the electoral process while the government insists the vote reflected the will of the people. Security remains tight in parts of the country as authorities monitor potential unrest following the announcement.