Uganda’s Electoral Commission on Saturday declared Yoweri Museveni the winner of the January 15, 2026 general election, extending his long tenure in office. The announcement was followed by a heavy security deployment around the residence of opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, widely known as Bobi Wine, in Magere on the outskirts of Kampala.
According to the Electoral Commission, Museveni secured more than 50 percent of valid votes cast, clearing the constitutional threshold for a first-round victory. Commission chair Simon Mugenyi Byabakama urged calm, calling on supporters of losing candidates to respect the declared outcome as security forces maintained a visible presence in the capital and surrounding districts.
Election framework and parliamentary vote
Uganda’s president is elected using a two-round system, though a candidate who surpasses 50 percent plus one vote wins outright. Term limits were removed in 2005, enabling incumbents to seek successive terms. Parliamentary elections were held concurrently, with all 529 seats contested. These include constituency MPs elected by first-past-the-post, district women representatives, and special-interest seats filled through electoral colleges representing the army, youth, elders, workers’ unions, and persons with disabilities.
Candidates and campaigns
Museveni, in power since 1986, ran as the flag bearer of the National Resistance Movement. Bobi Wine was nominated by the National Unity Platform, having finished second in the 2021 election, whose results he rejected at the time.
Other contenders included Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation, Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change, and candidates from smaller parties. Several aspirants, including women who collected the required endorsements, were not ultimately nominated.
The campaign period was tense. Rights groups reported repeated confrontations between security forces and opposition supporters. In December 2025, clashes were reported during opposition rallies in northern Uganda, while international observers cited arrests, dispersals of crowds, and restrictions on campaigning. The Uganda Communications Commission ordered a suspension of mobile internet services days before the vote, a move the opposition said undermined transparency.
Voting day and results
On election day, voting opened late in several constituencies due to equipment failures and biometric verification issues, according to the Electoral Commission. Officials authorized the use of paper registers to keep polling moving and extended voting by one hour nationwide.
As tallies were finalized, the commission announced Museveni’s victory, reporting that he had won with a clear majority over Kyagulanyi. Final national figures showed Museveni leading by a wide margin, while opposition leaders disputed the outcome and questioned the integrity of the process.
Security clampdown and reactions
Following the declaration, soldiers and police surrounded Kyagulanyi’s home, restricting access by supporters, lawmakers, and journalists. Opposition figures said the measures amounted to a de facto house arrest. Reports also emerged of confrontations at roadblocks, with opposition legislators alleging mistreatment while attempting to reach the area.
Kampala experienced an unusual calm after the announcement, with sparse traffic and a strong security presence. Some voters expressed skepticism about the results, saying they preferred to independently track tallies at local polling stations. Others openly questioned the value of elections under the prevailing conditions.
International response
Several diplomatic missions limited their observation roles, citing accreditation constraints. Rights organizations and United Nations officials reiterated concerns about the pre-election environment, restrictions on political activity, and the post-announcement security posture.
Parliamentary outlook
Preliminary parliamentary results indicated the National Resistance Movement retained a majority, with the National Unity Platform consolidating its position as the largest opposition bloc. Final seat allocations were expected to be published after verification of constituency and special-interest ballots.
As Uganda turns to the next phase of governance after the 2026 vote, the disputed outcome and the security response around opposition leaders are set to shape political debate, legal challenges, and calls for electoral reform in the months ahead.
