Uganda’s incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been declared the winner of the 2026 presidential election, securing 71.65% of the total valid votes cast. According to the Electoral Commission, Museveni garnered 7,946,772 votes, extending his leadership to a seventh term in office. His closest challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, also known as Bobi Wine, received 2,741,238 votes, accounting for 24.72% of the total.
The election, held on January 15, 2026, saw a total of 11,366,201 ballots cast, reflecting a voter turnout of 52.50%. The Electoral Commission reported that 275,353 ballots were declared invalid, representing 2.42% of the total votes cast. Other presidential candidates trailed behind Museveni and Kyagulanyi, with Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) finishing third with 209,039 votes.
Museveni’s victory marks his seventh term in office, having first gained power in January 1986. The president has faced longstanding allegations of election rigging, voter manipulation, and repression of opposition voices. However, in a recent interview, Museveni blamed opposition groups for undermining Uganda’s electoral process, alleging that Bobi Wine fraudulently obtained 2.7 million votes in the 2021 polls.
Kyagulanyi has rejected the election results, citing alleged ballot stuffing, military interference, and detention of opposition leaders. He also condemned the killing of citizens who attempted to peacefully protest the election outcome, asserting that Ugandans have a constitutional right to demonstrate in defense of their sovereignty. The police have denied claims that Kyagulanyi is under arrest, stating that he is free to leave his residence, although access to the premises is restricted to prevent incitement of violence.
Museveni’s extended rule has sparked concerns about his age and tenure in office. However, the president has rejected claims of political obsolescence, framing himself as a national asset with experience and competence. As Uganda’s political landscape continues to unfold, the international community will be watching closely to see how the situation develops. With Museveni set to extend his forty-year rule, the country’s future remains uncertain, and the opposition’s next steps will be crucial in shaping the nation’s trajectory.
