The Electoral Commission of Uganda has officially declared incumbent President Yoweri Museveni the winner of the 2026 presidential election, handing him a historic seventh term in office. The announcement, made today, Sunday, 18 January 2026, solidifies Museveni’s position as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, though the victory has been immediately rejected by the opposition as a “coordinated fraud.”
Despite the violence that marred the early polling days, the Electoral Commission (EC) announced that Museveni secured a comfortable majority, crossing the 50% threshold required to avoid a run-off.
The EC reported a turnout of 56%, noting that the process was “generally peaceful” despite reports of localized skirmishes.
Bobi Wine, the primary challenger, has categorically rejected the results. Speaking from his home in Magere, which remains under heavy police and military surveillance, he labeled the declaration an “insult to the intelligence of Ugandans.”
Allegations of Fraud: The NUP claims to have evidence of widespread ballot stuffing, pre-ticked ballots, and the physical removal of their polling agents from counting centers.
Court Challenge: The opposition has signaled its intent to file a petition in the Supreme Court, though they have expressed “low confidence” in the independence of the judiciary.
Call for Resilience: Bobi Wine urged his supporters to remain “firm but peaceful,” warning that “no amount of intimidation can sustain a dictatorship forever.”
Following the announcement, the capital city has seen a massive deployment of the Special Forces Command (SFC) and regular police.
Strategic Blocks: Roads leading to the Electoral Commission and the National Tallying Center at Kyambogo remain cordoned off.
Preventive Detentions: Reports indicate that several high-ranking opposition officials have been placed under “preventive arrest” to forestall potential mass protests.
Atmosphere: While NRM supporters have begun celebrating in some rural strongholds, the mood in Kampala remains tense and somber.
The African Union (AU) and EAC observers have released a joint preliminary statement. While acknowledging the technical conduct of the polls, they noted that the “environment of intimidation” and the “restricted digital space” (internet throttling) significantly hampered the inclusivity of the process.
The United States and European Union have yet to issue formal congratulations, instead calling for a “transparent and independent audit” of the tallying process.
In a brief televised address shortly after the declaration, President Museveni thanked his supporters and dismissed the opposition’s claims.
“The people have spoken, and they have chosen progress over chaos. This victory is not for Museveni; it is for the stability of Uganda. I call upon those who lost to accept the will of the people and join us in building the nation. The time for politics is over; the time for work has begun.”
