Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni has been officially declared the winner of Uganda’s 2026 presidential election, securing a seventh term in office after polling 71.65% of the total vote, the Electoral Commission announced on 17 January 2026.
The declaration extends Museveni’s rule to nearly 40 years, tightening the National Resistance Movement’s (NRM) long-standing grip on power. Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama confirmed the final results, stating that Museveni had obtained a decisive national mandate for the 2026–2031 term.
But the announcement has ignited immediate political storm.Opposition heavyweight and National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, who garnered 24.72% of the vote, flatly rejected the results, alleging widespread election fraud.
Bobi Wine cited polling day irregularities, interference in vote tallying, and intimidation of election agents, insisting the outcome does not reflect the will of the people.
In a swift response following the EC declaration, Bobi Wine urged his supporters to stay calm but alert, calling for peaceful protests against what he described as a “stolen election.”
Meanwhile, security forces have been deployed across major cities, with authorities placing key areas on high alert as political tension rises in the wake of the disputed results.
Museveni, on his part, thanked Ugandans for what he termed a “clear and overwhelming mandate,” pledging to prioritize economic growth, security, and national stability in his new term.
As the dust settles, Uganda once again stands at a political crossroads with questions mounting over electoral credibility, democracy, and the nation’s future leadership direction.
Stay tuned for more updates here in the aftermath of 2026 presidential elections.
