By George Bukenya
The Minister for Information Communication Technology, and National Guidance Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, has warned USA Senator Jim Risch to back off Uganda’s election Affairs, saying the Ugandans are free to exercise their choices in deciding their next leadership.
This follows Jim’s comment on Uganda’s 2026 general elections that saw President Museveni winning with a landslide victory, trouncing his closest challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi a.k.a Bobi Wine, with 71% against 24% of the total votes cast.
Baryomunsi, fresh from winning back his Kinkizi West Parliamentary Seat, made the warning while addressing reporters on the election aftermath. He urged that foreigners have no moral authority to comment negatively about Uganda’s general elections because they are not on the ground.
He acknowledged that there were some challenges in elections like candidates failing to adhere to the guidelines, forcing the security operatives to use force to put them in order, but that, according to the minister, doesn’t mean that elections didn’t go on well.
The United States of America Senator, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement, describing Uganda’s just concluded Presidential and Parliamentary election as a ‘hollow exercise’, a stage to legitimize President Yoweri Museveni’s seventh term in office.
According to the press release, he said, “ Uganda is a key regional security partner to the United States. Yet its ruling regime prioritizes domestic control through political violence, abductions, imprisonment, intimidation of opponents, and the misuse of state resources to maintain its grip on power.’’
“We are on the ground, and Jim is in his air-conditioned office. Besides that, we don’t conduct elections to satisfy USA Senators, and such people like Jim have no competence to talk about Uganda’s elections. Uganda is a Sovereign State.’’ Dr. Baryomunsi stated.
He further explained, “ Even in the USA, where democracy is presumed to be absolute, they have imperfections. When does Jim get the evidence to back up his utterances? Such a business of wanting to drive what happens in other countries is unacceptable.
‘’America’s Senators like Jim can’t choose for us leaders, Ugandans chose President Museveni to lead the country for the next five years, let Jim go and hang himself if he wants,’’ Dr. Baryomunsi said.
‘’Ugandans have taken a decision on their leaders, for instance, in Kampala City, they have removed an opposition Lord Mayor and replaced him with a fellow opposition leader, and no one is complaining.’’
Ugandans are happy with the National Resistance Movement Party (NRM). Let us give President Museveni time to implement the party’s manifesto, and later demand accountability.
In his concluding remarks, the minister urged all Ugandans to rally behind the National Development Programs, call for reconciliation and tolerance, and participate.