President Yoweri Museveni, Uganda's leader since 1986, holds a clear lead in the presidential election held on January 15, 2026. With votes counted from early tallies, he has 61.7% of the valid votes so far. The election covers the whole country, and counting goes on as officials work through results from polling stations.
Background
Uganda held its general elections on Thursday, January 15, to pick a president and members of parliament. Museveni, now 81 years old, ran for a seventh term. He leads the National Resistance Movement, the party in power. This marks nearly 40 years for him at the top, starting from 1986.
His main challenger is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine. The former musician turned politician ran in 2021 too and came second. He leads the National Unity Platform. Many young people back him. Over 70% of Ugandans are under 30, and they have known only Museveni as president.
The run-up to the vote saw problems. Security forces used tear gas and pepper spray on opposition crowds. Amnesty International called it a brutal campaign against rivals. On New Year's Eve, Museveni told forces to use more tear gas on what he called the criminal opposition. He said it does not kill.
Days before the vote, on January 13, the government cut mobile internet. Officials said it stopped misinformation, fraud, and violence. Bobi Wine said the blackout let the government stuff ballots and arrest his people.
Voting faced long lines and technical issues. Some stations stayed open an extra hour. The day passed with few big clashes, but tension hung in the air.
Key Details
Uganda's Electoral Commission shared the first numbers late Thursday. They tallied 23,049 valid votes. Museveni got 14,232 of them, or 61.7%. Invalid votes stood at 796, or 3.34% of the total.
Commission chair Simon Mugenyi said the count was peaceful in most places. Vote counting finished in many areas despite the extra time for voting.
Election Day Challenges
Polls opened across the country, from Kampala to rural spots. In Bobi Wine strongholds, crowds turned out in hundreds to watch him vote. Security was heavy everywhere.
An internet shutdown meant no social media or online news for voters. This made it hard to share updates from stations. Delays came from broken machines and ballot shortages in some places.
Bobi Wine voted amid cheers. He has said before that past elections were rigged. Every vote since 1996 faced claims of fraud and crackdowns.
Museveni pushes jobs for youth as his pitch. He sat for talks on the vote and said people who rig are the opposition, not his side.
"The regime is scared about us, we are the real opposition and the regime knows that they are losing, that they are losing this election so they are intending to rig it massively." – Bobi Wine
What This Means
If the lead holds, Museveni stays in power for five more years. He would mark over four decades leading Uganda. His win would calm his supporters but anger those wanting change.
Opposition leaders like Bobi Wine watch close. They say irregularities taint the process. In 2021, Bobi Wine filed a court challenge but dropped it. This time, eyes stay on the full count.
The vote tests Uganda's democracy. Young voters want jobs and freedom. Many see Bobi Wine as fresh hope. But security forces back the government, and turnout matters.
Counting continues into Friday and beyond. All eyes turn to the commission for final numbers. Over half the stations still report. Invalid votes and turnout numbers will shape the picture.
Peace holds for now, but protests could follow if results upset many. The internet stays off in parts, keeping information limited. Uganda waits as numbers build.
Museveni's long rule brought stability after years of war. But critics point to rights curbs and poverty. The economy struggles with high youth joblessness.
Bobi Wine rose from music to politics. His songs hit government nerves. Supporters see him as a fighter against old ways.
The election fills parliament seats too. Parties fight over 353 spots. Local races mix with the presidential one.
For now, early tallies favor the incumbent. The full story waits on more votes.
