The message was shared by President Kagame on his X account in the early hours of Monday, January 19, 2026.
“Congratulations President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on your re-election as President of the Republic of Uganda. I extend my best wishes to you and the people of Uganda as you continue to serve your nation for the prosperity of your people. I look forward to the continued strong and productive cooperation between our two countries,” President Kagame wrote.
Museveni was declared the winner of Uganda’s presidential election on January 17, 2026, securing a seventh term in office following the vote held on January 15.
Museveni won the election with 71.6 percent of the vote, defeating seven other candidates, including Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, who garnered 24.72 percent.
Rwanda and Uganda maintain close relations, particularly in trade. In the third quarter of 2025, Rwanda exported goods worth $16.4 million to Uganda. The two countries also cooperate in political and military matters.
Beyond being neighboring states, Rwanda and Uganda share ties rooted in history, culture, and various economic cooperation initiatives.
On Saturday, Uganda’s Electoral Commission announced that the country’s incumbent President Museveni won the presidential election, securing a seventh five-year term in office after garnering more than 7.9 million votes out of about 11.3 million valid ballots cast.
In a statement issued late Saturday, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf congratulated Museveni on his re-election, commending the conduct of the elections.
Youssouf applauded the people of Uganda for their commitment to consolidating democratic gains, peace, security and development. He also commended former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan for his “sterling leadership” of the joint AU, IGAD and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa election observation mission to Uganda.
In a separate statement issued Saturday, the IGAD also congratulated Museveni on his re-election. IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu reaffirmed IGAD’s support for efforts aimed at strengthening democratic governance, peace, stability and inclusive development in Uganda.
Museveni’s closest challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi, a pop-star-turned-politician, also known as Bobi Wine, received over 2.7 million votes, while the remaining votes were shared among six other presidential candidates, according to the Electoral Commission.
However, Kyagulanyi rejected the final election results announced by the Electoral Commission, describing them as fraudulent. In a statement posted on his X account on Saturday, he said there were instances of military intimidation and ballot stuffing, among other irregularities.
Speaking a day after being declared the winner by the country’s Electoral Commission, Museveni warned against election-related violence and foreign interference, urging all Ugandans, including opposition supporters, to uphold peace and national unity.
Addressing the nation from his home district of Kiruhura in western Uganda, Museveni said his next term would prioritize support for wealth creators, including commercial farmers, manufacturers, hotel operators and investors, through institutions such as the Uganda Development Bank.
He added that the government would intensify efforts to lift the remaining 30 percent of Ugandans out of poverty, with the goal of ensuring all households transition to sustainable livelihoods.
Museveni also pledged to strengthen public service delivery, including maintaining free education in government schools, improving healthcare services, particularly the availability of medicines in public health facilities, and enhancing supervision by leaders at all levels.
The fight against corruption and the pursuit of justice would remain central priorities, he said.
Museveni said Uganda is set to begin oil production this year, marking a new phase in the country’s economic development.
Residents confirmed that Wazalendo fighters entered Uvira early Sunday morning, a day after AFC/M23 announced that it had fully withdrawn from the city. Footage circulating on social media shows armed fighters roaming the streets, with reports of looting and abuse against civilians, acts for which the group has previously been accused.
A former South Kivu official, now based in Kalemie, told the BBC that Wazalendo fighters had indeed returned to Uvira but said they were awaiting further instructions from their leadership.
“We must proceed with extreme caution,” he said. “Our superiors are first verifying whether M23’s claims are accurate.”
Despite the presence of Wazalendo fighters in the city, AFC/M23 said it had handed responsibility for Uvira’s security to the international community and called for the protection of civilians.
In a letter dated January 15, 2026, addressed to the UN Secretary-General, AFC/M23 said it had for three days been urging the UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) to deploy forces to protect Uvira’s population.
AFC/M23 leader Corneille Nangaa said the group had decided to place Uvira “under the full responsibility of the international community.”
He explained that a small AFC/M23 security unit had initially remained in the city to maintain oversight while awaiting the deployment of neutral forces, but that this unit also withdrew on January 15.
The group warned the United Nations that the presence of Burundian troops, the FDLR armed group, Wazalendo militias, and foreign mercenaries posed a serious threat to civilians in Uvira.
“Their presence and activities not only endanger civilian lives but also undermine the ongoing peace process and regional stability,” AFC/M23 said.
The group called for the urgent deployment of neutral international forces to prevent Uvira from returning to the suffering it experienced when it was previously controlled by Congolese government-aligned forces.
AFC/M23 captured Uvira on December 9, 2025, following a week-long battle in the Ruzizi Plain in South Kivu province. The group said it withdrew at the request of the United States to allow peace negotiations to continue.
Washington had asked AFC/M23 to redeploy to positions approximately 75 kilometres from Uvira, assuring the group that such a move would enable the international community to better protect civilians.
During AFC/M23’s control of the city, residents reported a return to relative calm, with people resuming daily activities without widespread violence, theft, or looting.
However, fears remain high following the group’s withdrawal, with many residents concerned that those perceived as having supported AFC/M23 could face reprisals.
The hotel is situated 15 kilometres from Kwa Gahiza in Murambi Village, offering guests a warm welcome among eight elegantly designed bungalows. Six feature single rooms, while two accommodate families with double rooms.
Additional structures house a restaurant and reception area, guest services, and staff quarters. All buildings were constructed using locally sourced materials in partnership with the Rwandan company Clezol, reflecting a commitment to sustainability and community engagement.
Robin Marenco, the 26-year-old founder of Muhazi Dolce Vita, shared his story exclusively with IGIHE. Originally from France with Italian roots, Robin holds a Master’s degree in hospitality management. His vision was to establish a hotel that combines his training in hospitality with Rwanda’s natural beauty.
“I first visited Rwanda in 2023,” Robin said. “That was the first time I really saw Rwanda.”
He explained that he had read about the country and was drawn by its safety, stability, and growing tourism sector. During the trip, he connected with the owner of Rutete Eco Lodge in Rwinkwavu, who welcomed him for a month and guided him in managing parts of the lodge. That experience gave him his first real insight into Rwanda.
Robin’s first visit included trips across the country, from northern lakes to the shores of Lake Muhazi. It was the latter that captured his imagination. Its calm waters, scenic landscapes, and proximity to Kigali and Akagera National Park made it an ideal location for a hospitality project appealing to both domestic and international visitors.
“When I returned home, I reflected on what I had seen and experienced and decided to come back to Rwanda to establish my project here,” the investor revealed.
The name “Dolce Vita,” Robin explains, means “the sweet life” in Italian, a lifestyle centred on enjoying simple pleasures and savouring life’s beauty. He said he wanted to bring that concept to Rwanda, noting that Lake Muhazi’s natural charm and tranquillity offered the perfect setting to blend this philosophy with local culture.
Muhazi Dolce Vita is already operational, and Robin is planning further developments to enhance the lakeside experience. He has applied for permits to build additional tourist facilities, including a specially designed boat for lake excursions, beach-volleyball and beach-soccer courts, and a pétanque area, a traditional French game that encourages family and community interaction. Scenic spots for photography will also be added to showcase the lake’s beauty.
District Mayor Radjab Mbonyumuvunyi highlighted the hotel’s positive impact on the local community, noting that it provides a ready market for locally grown agricultural produce while generating employment opportunities and additional income for residents.
Rooms at Muhazi Dolce Vita are priced between $100 and $120 (146,000–175,000 Rwandan francs) per night, and the hotel currently employs 16 permanent staff, ensuring a high standard of service for visitors.
With its combination of natural beauty, thoughtful design, and a young entrepreneur’s vision, Muhazi Dolce Vita is positioning itself as a must-visit destination for weekend getaways from Kigali and for tourists exploring Rwanda’s eastern region.
Clips circulating online show the streamer dodging water bottles thrown by fans at the Ultras Algerie FC stadium during a live match. Moments later, Speed left the venue, stating he was not welcome, and cut the livestream without further explanation.
Before the stadium incident, IShowSpeed had visited other parts of Algeria, interacting warmly with locals and fans. He spent time in public spaces, taking photos, joking with people on the streets, and sharing playful moments that were widely circulated online.
The hostile reception at the stadium has sparked discussions online about the unpredictability of livestreaming in different cultural contexts. Some people suggested the reaction from the fans stemmed from the club supporters’ strict privacy rules and aversion to being filmed, rather than any racial motivation.
Extreme supporters of Ultras Algerie, known for their loyalty and intense media restrictions, were reportedly behind the aggressive behaviour.
IShowSpeed was in Algeria as part of his “Speed Does Africa” tour, a 28-day livestream journey across 20 African countries. The American creator has already completed 13 stops, including Rwanda on January 10, as well as Angola, South Africa, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Algeria. Seven countries remain on the itinerary: Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, and Liberia.
The tour is scheduled to conclude on Monday, January 26, with a highly anticipated “DNA Reveal” stream, where Speed plans to announce his specific genetic ancestry while in the country indicated by his results, rumoured to be either Nigeria or Morocco.
Wherever he has travelled so far, the internet personality with nearly 50 million followers has attracted large crowds of fans, connecting with them in person and online while sharing his experiences across the continent.
The influencer recently concluded his “Speed Does America Tour”, during which he travelled across 25 states in the United States over a 35-day period. He has previously toured regions including South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.
For the 2025/2026 fiscal year, Rwanda has set an ambitious target of planting 60 million trees.
The Eastern Province leads the country in tree planting, with nearly 17 million trees planted in the last three months. It is followed by the Southern Province, which has planted 10.77 million trees. The Western Province has planted 10.31 million trees, the Northern Province 5.45 million, and Kigali City 490,865 trees.
Dr. Concorde Nsengumuremyi, Director General of the Rwanda Forestry Authority, explained that Rwanda is prioritising indigenous trees because they are naturally adapted to local conditions and can withstand heavy rains and rising temperatures.
“Indigenous trees can endure climate change and continue to thrive. They are also more resistant to diseases compared to exotic species such as eucalyptus and grevillea, which are often affected by forest diseases,” he said.
Dr. Nsengumuremyi explained that indigenous trees are superior for ecosystem health because they have co-evolved with local wildlife, supporting greater biodiversity than exotic species. Unlike many non-native trees that can degrade soil quality or suppress undergrowth through chemical inhibition, indigenous varieties produce nutrient-rich leaf litter that fosters fertile soil and healthy grass growth.
Furthermore, while exotic trees often grow faster, the dense wood of indigenous species provides more stable, long-term carbon storage, making them a more effective tool for mitigating climate change.
Under the government’s accelerated development program, Rwanda plans to plant over 300 million trees by 2029.
In Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, a large crowd gathered at City Hall Square in central Copenhagen around 12 p.m. local time before marching toward the U.S. Embassy, about 2 km away. Protesters included people from both Denmark and Greenland, many of whom carried Danish and Greenlandic flags as they marched through the city.
In Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, people began gathering from early afternoon, chanting “Greenland belongs to Greenlanders.” The protest drew broad participation, including Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who waved a Greenlandic flag as demonstrators chanted slogans and traditional Inuit songs under light rain. Many participants wore caps bearing the words “Make America Go Away.”
Similar protests were held or planned in the Danish cities of Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg, as well as in the Greenlandic cities of Aasiaat, Qaqortoq and Ilulissat, according to Danish media.
Later in the afternoon, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States will impose 10-percent tariffs on all goods from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland over Greenland starting on February 1.
Those tariffs would increase to 25 percent on June 1, and would continue until a deal is reached for the United States to purchase Greenland, Trump said on social media.
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. The United States maintains a military base on the island.
Trump has repeatedly demonstrated his interest in Greenland, from “buying” the island during his first presidential term, to the current employment of “a range of options” including “utilizing the U.S. military” to seize the autonomous island.
A “fundamental disagreement” persists over the future of Greenland following a meeting of high-ranking officials from the United States, Denmark and Greenland on Wednesday.
Following a meeting on Wednesday in Washington with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said “fundamental disagreement” over the future of Greenland remained.
The restoration followed four days of restricted connectivity that began on January 13, when the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) ordered all telecommunications companies to suspend internet services. The directive also required operators to stop selling new SIM cards and halt other communication-related activities.
Authorities said the shutdown was aimed at limiting the spread of misinformation and ensuring the smooth conduct and integrity of the electoral process.
According to reports from local media, internet services began gradually returning shortly after the Electoral Commission announced President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s victory.
Global internet monitoring organization NetBlocks also confirmed the development, noting that connectivity was being restored progressively after days of disruption.
Museveni, 81, was declared the winner of the presidential election, securing a seventh term in office. The Electoral Commission said he garnered 71.65 percent of the vote. His main challenger, opposition leader and musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine, 43, received 24.72 percent of the vote, according to the official results.
According to final results announced by the Electoral Commission, the country’s electoral body, Museveni garnered more than 7.9 million votes out of about 11.3 million valid ballots cast.
His closest challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, received over 2.7 million votes, while the remaining votes were shared among six other presidential candidates, the results showed.
Announcing the outcome, EC Chairperson Simon Byabakama described the polls on Thursday as generally peaceful, with no major incidents reported, and urged those contesting the results to seek redress through the courts.
Hours before the results were declared, unconfirmed reports emerged that Kyagulanyi had been arrested at his home in Magere, central Wakiso District. Police later dismissed the claims, saying he remained at his residence while officers were deployed in the area as a preventive measure.
Police spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke also urged political actors to refrain from issuing inflammatory statements.
Days before the elections, the United Nations Human Rights Office said the elections were taking place in an environment marked by repression and intimidation against opposition figures, journalists, and human rights defenders — claims the government rejected as baseless.
Museveni’s victory extends his time in power to more than 40 years. He first came to office after a five-year guerrilla war following the country’s 1980 elections. Since the restoration of general elections in 1996, he has won successive presidential contests.
Kyagulanyi, a former popular musician who has now challenged Museveni twice, campaigned under the slogan “Protest Vote,” drawing strong support from younger voters and accusing the government of corruption and human rights abuses.
Richard Twodong, secretary general of the ruling National Resistance Movement party, described the party’s presidential victory as largely free and fair, apart from a few issues raised by the opposition, saying Museveni’s campaign focus on poverty alleviation resonated with voters.
The opposition National Unity Platform, led by Kyagulanyi, rejected the results. Party official Benjamin Katana said the outcome did not reflect events on election day and called for public legal protests.
In a preliminary report issued Thursday, the African Union (AU) observer mission said the elections were held in an environment calmer than in 2021.
