Uganda’s Electoral Commission has officially declared incumbent President Yoweri Museveni the winner of the January 15 presidential election, securing his seventh term in office and extending his rule that began in 1986.
The announcement came on January 17 from Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, who cited Museveni’s victory based on tabulated votes from across the country.
Museveni, representing the National Resistance Movement – NRM, garnered a commanding majority, but the results have been met with fierce allegations of fraud from opposition leaders, sparking protests and international scrutiny.
With a voter turnout of 52.5%, the election saw approximately 11 million valid votes cast out of a registered electorate of over 20 million.
According to the final tally released by the Electoral Commission, Museveni received the lion’s share of the votes. Here’s a breakdown of the results for the top candidates:
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yoweri Museveni | National Resistance Movement (NRM) | 7,946,772 | 71.65% |
| Bobi Wine (Robert Kyagulanyi) | National Unity Platform (NUP) | 2,741,238 | 24.72% |
| Nandala Mafabi | Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) | ~208,000* | 1.88% |
| Mugisha Muntu | Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) | ~59,000* | 0.53% |
| Frank Bulira Kabinga | Independent | ~45,000* | 0.41% |
| Robert Kasibante | Independent | ~33,000* | 0.30% |
| Mubarak Sserunga | Independent | ~32,000* | 0.29% |
| Elton Joseph Mabirizi | Independent | ~23,000* | 0.21% |
Museveni’s win was consistent with early projections, where partial results from about 45% of polling stations showed him leading with 76.25% against Bobi Wine’s 19.85%.
As more stations reported, the margins adjusted slightly, but Museveni maintained a substantial lead throughout.
The 2026 election pitted the 81-year-old Museveni, a former guerrilla leader who has dominated Ugandan politics for over four decades, against a younger generation of challengers led by 43-year-old pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, campaigned on promises of ending corruption, improving youth employment, and dismantling what he called Museveni’s “dictatorship.”
The run-up to the vote was marred by violence, arrests, and an internet blackout imposed by the government, which lasted several days and drew criticism from human rights groups and international observers. Museveni defended the shutdown as necessary to prevent “external interference” and misinformation.
The election also coincided with parliamentary polls, where the NRM is expected to retain control, though opposition parties made gains in urban areas.