U.S. Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement on Uganda’s recent elections, describing them as lacking genuine democratic value. According to Risch, “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.”
Risch highlighted Uganda's importance as a regional security partner for the United States but criticized the ruling regime's approach to governance. He stated that Ugandan authorities focus on maintaining domestic control through methods such as political violence, abductions, imprisonment, intimidation of opponents, and misuse of state resources.
He also raised concerns about Uganda’s role in destabilizing activities beyond its borders: “Uganda is also linked to destabilizing regional activities, including in South Sudan—making the regime an increasingly problematic exporter of instability.” Risch noted similarities between developments in Tanzania and Uganda and warned that these trends could affect upcoming elections in other African countries such as Ethiopia and Kenya.
While acknowledging efforts by the Trump Administration to pursue commercial and security objectives in the region, Risch questioned whether these goals can be achieved under current circumstances. He said: “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.”
