Museveni: Opposition Printed 2.7 Million Fake Ballot Papers in 2021 Election

Kampala: President Museveni has accused opposition parties, mainly the National Unity Platform (NUP), of orchestrating long-running election fraud in Kampala, alleging ballot stuffing and the printing of fake ballot papers during the country’s recent polls.

Speaking late on Wednesday, Museveni said opposition actors in the capital had for years manipulated electoral outcomes, claiming the malpractice escalated during the 2021 general election.

“So what has been happening now, not only last year, for a long time, the opposition in Kampala here, they have been ballot stuffing, but this time last, 2021 they went further and printed their own fake ballot papers in Kuruma Road,” Museveni said.

He alleged that millions of fake ballot papers were produced and imported, without presenting evidence.

“Then there were the one million. Then they imported from Dubai 1.7 million. So altogether, they cheated 2.7 million,” he added.

The opposition has consistently rejected accusations of electoral fraud, instead alleging that security agencies and the electoral commission manipulate votes in favour of the NRM.

NUP, led by opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has said the 2021 elections and subsequent by-elections were marred by intimidation, arrests of its supporters and falsification of results, especially in urban areas.

Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, said disputed elections posed a long-term risk to national stability, echoing warnings he said he has made since independence.

“So that’s why. Now the answer is from 1962 I’ve been telling people, you must not leave our children with the problem of contested elections,” he said.

The remarks follow Museveni’s decision earlier this year to order criminal and electoral investigations into the Kawempe North by-election, a Kampala constituency vote held amid violence and allegations of malpractice.

On March 16, 2025, Museveni announced probes into reports of ballot stuffing, destruction of ballot boxes, voter intimidation and illegal campaigning at polling stations.

In a statement issued on that date, Museveni said those responsible would be held accountable, stressing that the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) would not tolerate electoral fraud. “To think that you can commit such crimes against the law and the people when the NRM is in charge of the country is the highest form of shallowness. We shall hold everybody accountable,” he warned.

The president specifically cited incidents in Kazo-Angola and Mbogo Mosque zones, where ballot boxes were allegedly destroyed to prevent votes from being counted, and said a suspect had been arrested in possession of 18 ballot papers.