FALSE: Viral AI-Videos Claim Museveni Announced His Last Term and Endorsed Bobi Wine

Two short video clips have circulated widely on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, purporting to show Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni making surprising political statements.

The first clip allegedly depicts him declaring that the upcoming 2026-2031 term would be his final one as president. The second shows him urging opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi (popularly known as Bobi Wine) to "relax" and drop out of the race, while promising to step down and campaign for him in the next election.

These videos have been shared with captions implying they are from past electoral periods, such as around the 2021 general elections, and have sparked discussions about their authenticity. However, a close examination reveals clear signs of manipulation, including AI generation, making the claims false and misleading.

Video 1 ("Last Term" Announcement):

In this approximately 15-second clip, President Museveni is shown at a podium, stating:

"This is the last time I'm vying for president in Uganda. I will never vie again after 2026, so I urge all Ugandans to come out and vote with me in large numbers and vote for me for the very last time. I have a few projects that I want to finish."

The video includes red subtitle overlays and has been posted on X, for example, by users like @AAgather, who questioned its legitimacy as AI-generated satire.

A deepfake Video of President Yoweri Museveni announcing his Last Term

Video 2 ("Bobi Wine Endorsement")

This 20-second clip features Museveni saying:

"I urge Robert Kiagulani, or whatever you call him. Is it Bobby Wine? I urge that young man to relax. I want to promise Bobby Wine that in the next general elections I will personally campaign for him. He is a good guy and he can make a very good president of Uganda."

It includes a "KENYA FINEST" logo and repeating text banners, and has been shared by accounts like @AlinurMohamed_, with some users noting its suspicious nature.

Video 2: Bobi Wine Endorsement

These clips suggest Museveni made these statements in official settings, possibly at State House, during previous campaigns. They have gained traction amid speculation about the 2026 Ugandan elections, potentially aiming to influence public opinion or create satire.

What we have found.

To verify these videos, we examined visual elements, audio quality, contextual details, and historical records using standard fact-checking methods, including frame-by-frame analysis, reverse searches, and cross-referencing with official sources.

We found no evidence supporting the claim that these statements were ever made by President Museveni in the claimed periods.

Lip Sync and Visual Inconsistencies:

In both videos, the mouth movements do not align precisely with the spoken words a hallmark of deepfake technology. For instance, in Video 1, phrases like "I will never vie again after 2026" show overly smooth or repetitive lip openings without natural facial twitches. Video 2 has similar issues, with delayed jaw movements during words like "Kiagulani" (a mispronunciation of Kyagulanyi) and "relax." Gestures, such as hand pointing and head tilts, are repetitive and identical across clips, indicating AI synthesis from a limited base footage set. Tools like photo forensics (e.g., similar to those recommended by fact-checkers, such as Forensically) would reveal unnatural smoothing or artefacts in lighting and shadows.

Audio Quality and Voice Cloning Issues:

The voice in both clips is hoarse, muffled, and unnatural, with awkward pauses and intonations unlike Museveni's typical clear delivery in verified speeches. Errors like "vote with me on large numbers" (likely meant "in large numbers") in Video 1 and hesitant phrasing in Video 2 suggest AI voice cloning errors. Independent audio analysis could confirm distortions common in generated content.

Podium and Setting Mismatches:

The videos imply an official Ugandan setting, with a Ugandan flag visible in Video 1. However, the podium colors—plain black in Video 1 and featuring a "KENYA FINEST" logo in Video 2—do not match standard Ugandan national branding, which often incorporates the flag's black, yellow, and red. The "KENYA FINEST" overlay points to repurposed content from Kenyan TikTok creators, not an authentic Ugandan event. Watermarks like TikTok logos and "@kenyafinest_" further indicate edited, non-official footage.

Absence from Historical and Official Records:

A search of archived news, social media from the alleged periods (e.g., 2021 elections), and official channels like the Ugandan State House YouTube shows no matching statements. Museveni has not publicly announced a "last term" or endorsed Bobi Wine in this manner; his historical stance opposes such concessions. Fact-checks confirm the base footage resembles a real August 2025 briefing in Egypt, but with fabricated audio overlaid. The videos' recent virality (millions of views on TikTok and X) aligns with patterns of political deepfakes ahead of elections, often for satire or disruption.

AI Generation Indicators:

Both clips exhibit common deepfake traits, such as generic backgrounds, blurred frames, and looping elements. Similar to cases we've fact-checked before, like AI-manipulated images causing panic, these videos lack original sources and appear designed using accessible AI tools for voice cloning and video synthesis.

Sources

• Official Ugandan government and media archives (e.g., State House communications) contain no record of these statements.

• Cross-referencing with reliable sources like Africa Check and PesaCheck shows no verification of the clips as authentic.

• User discussions on X highlight the fakes, with replies noting "clumsy facial expressions" and AI artifacts.

• Tools for reverse video search (e.g., similar to Google Reverse Image Search for frames) trace elements to unrelated real footage, confirming manipulation.

Verdict

The viral videos of President Museveni announcing his last term and endorsing Bobi Wine are AI-generated deepfakes, not authentic recordings from past electoral periods. They were fabricated using manipulated footage and voice cloning, likely for satirical or disruptive purposes.

Sharing such content can spread unnecessary speculation and undermine trust ahead of the 2026 elections. We urge the public to verify videos through reverse searches, official sources, and fact-checking tools before sharing. If you encounter similar claims, report them to platforms and consult organisations like Fact Watch Africa and Debunk Media Initiative for clarification.