West is growing wary of Uganda’s president
NAIROBI, Kenya — A bloody and contentious election season in Uganda, in which dozens of people were killed and the principal opposition candidate was placed under de facto house arrest, recently gave a sixth five-year term to President Yoweri Museveni, a staunch U.S. military ally.
But now the U.S. State Department says it is considering a range of actions against Museveni, who, since taking office in 1986, has been among Africa’s leading beneficiaries of U.S. aid even as he tightened his iron grip on the nation.
The campaign leading to this month’s election was marred by the intimidation of opposition candidates, particularly Bobi Wine, a popstar-turned-lawmaker who rose to become the president’s toughest challenger.
“We have significant concerns about Uganda’s recent elections,” a State Department representative said in a statement emailed to the New York Times.
The “conduct of the Ugandan authorities during those elections,” the statement read, “is one factor that will be considered as we make determinations on future U.S. assistance.”
Before, during and after the vote, journalists and independent observers were kept from closely watching the proceedings. A nationwide internet shutdown restricted the flow of information.
Wine, 38, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, maintains that the election was rigged in Museveni’s favor and plans to present evidence in court Monday challenging the results.
For decades, Museveni has received financial and diplomatic support from the United States and other Western nations. Yet under him, Uganda has repeatedly sent troops across its borders to take sides in conflicts in neighboring countries.
“He’s been the region’s pyromaniac since he came to power, whether we are talking about Sudan, South Sudan or Rwanda or the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said Helen Epstein, author of “Another Fine Mess: America, Uganda and the War on Terror.” “His army has intervened everywhere, to the detriment of peace.”
Every year, the United States alone provides more than $970 million to Uganda. Uganda has in turn partnered with the United States in working to quell terrorism.
Observers such as Epstein say the violence around the election, and the clampdown on opposition figures such as Wine might tip things this time. “I think finally people are beginning to wake up” to the reality of Museveni’s Uganda, Epstein said.