US Senator Risch Calls Museveni Polls a ‘Hollow Exercise,’ Flags Muhoozi for Possible Sanctions

Kampala/Washington — The chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Jim Risch, has sharply criticized Uganda’s recent general elections, describing them as a “hollow exercise” designed to legitimise President Museveni’s continued hold on power.

In a statement released in Washington, Mr Risch said the elections were staged to secure President Museveni’s seventh term and nearly four decades in office, drawing parallels with Tanzania’s recent polls, which he said followed a similar pattern.

“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,” Mr Risch said.

The US senator noted that Uganda’s situation was particularly troubling given its status as a key regional security partner of the United States. He accused the ruling establishment of prioritising domestic control through political violence, abductions, imprisonment, intimidation of political opponents, and the misuse of state resources.

Mr Risch further warned that Uganda was increasingly linked to destabilising activities in the region, including in South Sudan, describing the country as a growing exporter of instability.

“Uganda is also linked to destabilizing regional activities, including in South Sudan—making the regime an increasingly problematic exporter of instability,” he said.

The senator cautioned that developments in Uganda and Tanzania raised wider regional concerns, especially for countries preparing for elections such as Ethiopia and Kenya.

While acknowledging the Trump administration’s efforts to advance commercial and security interests in the region, Mr Risch said the current political trajectory in Uganda could complicate those objectives.

“I’m concerned this will be increasingly difficult to do given the current trajectory,” he said.

He called on the US administration to reassess its security relationship with Uganda, including a review of whether sanctions should be imposed under existing laws. In particular, Mr Risch mentioned the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as one of the actors who could be considered.

“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,” he said.

Ugandan government officials have previously rejected similar criticism from foreign actors, insisting that the elections were peaceful, lawful, and reflected the will of the people.

Political analysts say the remarks by Mr Risch, one of the most influential voices on US foreign policy, signal possible strain in relations between Kampala and Washington, particularly in the areas of security cooperation and governance.

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