The electoral commission here in Uganda has announced that Yoweri Museveni has won a sixth term in office. I've seen one group of NRM supporters beeping on bodas across Kampala. But the city is eerily quiet for a Saturday evening. 1/
We listened to the radio in the Kamwokya neighborhood of Kampala. And when the announcement came there was stunning silence. 2/
"I think it is time for president Museveni to get rid of elections," Jean-Bosco Kalibala told me. "Right now what we hear being read is not what we know the people of Uganda want. We Ugandans know we cannot do anything to President Museveni." 3/
He said they had watched people die during the election season. "So the best thing to do is to get rid of elections and let him continue ruling," Kalibala said. 4/
I asked him if this means he is giving up on change through a political process. He said, "Yeah. Unless God helps us and takes him away." 5/
Other people told me this is silence is fear. The security deployment across Kampala is astounding. Military, police, prison guards, SFC, are spread across the city. They are in hills, in buildings, they are patrolling the streets. One man told me, everyone is scared. 6/
For the record, here are the final tallies as announced by the electoral commission: Bobi Wine received 34.84 percent of the vote and President Museveni received 58.64 percent of the vote.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
