IN SHORT: A claim that Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni is critically ill and in hospital is circulating on social media. However, there is no evidence to support it.
Two graphics circulating on social media claim that Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni is in a critical condition in hospital.
“UPDATE: Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been hospitalised and is in Critical condition,” they read.
The graphics, dated 18 October 2025, feature the logos of two Facebook pages – 7 News Global and Channel 7 News. Together, these pages boast a total of 2.8 million followers.
Other Facebook pages have also published the claim without the graphics, using Museveni’s photos instead.
Museveni came into power as a rebel leader in 1986 and has since become one of Africa’s longest-serving presidents. He has frequently faced allegations of authoritarianism, including suppressing opposition voices and manipulating electoral processes through state institutions.
Uganda is set to hold elections in 2026, with Museveni seeking re-election. Members of parliament have amended the constitution twice to allow the incumbent president to run for re-election indefinitely.
The graphics and the claim have been reposted over 900 times.
But can they be trusted, and is the claim accurate? We investigated.
False claim
The two Facebook pages, 7 News Global and Channel 7 News, have previously published graphics attributing fabricated quotes to famous people in Kenya, suggesting that the circulating claim may also be fabricated. The graphics were posted simultaneously, indicating that the same person could be operating both pages.
Despite the claim’s newsworthiness, Africa Check found no reports from credible media outlets about it. Usually, both local and international media would pick up such a development.
Museveni is active on social media, using platforms like X to update the public on his activities. Since the claim surfaced on 18 October, he has continued to post campaign schedules and photos of his engagements with supporters while on the campaign trail.
On 21 October, local media published his photos in newspapers and on social media, reporting on his latest location and campaign activities.
The claim that Museveni is critically ill and in hospital is false.
For publishers: what to do if your post is rated false
A fact-checker has rated your Facebook or Instagram post as “false”, “altered”, “partly false” or “missing context”. This could have serious consequences. What do you do?
Click on our guide for the steps you should follow.
Publishers guideAfrica Check teams up with Facebook
Africa Check is a partner in Meta's third-party fact-checking programme to help stop the spread of false information on social media.
The content we rate as “false” will be downgraded on Facebook and Instagram. This means fewer people will see it.
You can also help identify false information on Facebook. This guide explains how.
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