A senior aide to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has caused controversy by saying the president will not lose power through elections.
The aide, Yiga Wamala, who is a Senior Presidential Adviser, made the statement ahead of Thursday’s election. President Museveni is contesting for a seventh term and has ruled Uganda since 1986.
In a video shared widely on social media, Wamala said voters should not waste their time staying at polling stations because, according to him, ordinary citizens and party agents will not be involved in counting votes.
He also claimed that Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is currently Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, is being prepared to succeed his father as president.
Wamala said voters would not even see the votes they cast being counted.
He added that even after Museveni leaves office, his son will take over, questioning whether people would continue protesting endlessly.
According to him, voters should simply cast their ballots and go home, insisting that they would have no role in the vote-counting process.
His comments have sparked strong reactions online. Many critics say his remarks undermine democracy, while supporters of the ruling government have defended him.
