Seven dead in Uganda election violence as Museveni leads early results

A dark cloud has fallen over Uganda’s 2026 general elections, as at least seven people have been confirmed dead following outbreaks of violence in several parts of the country. Despite the unrest, early provisional results released today, Friday, 16 January 2026, show the incumbent, President Yoweri Museveni, maintaining a dominant lead.

The Uganda Police Force confirmed that the fatalities occurred during clashes between security forces and opposition supporters in the capital, Kampala, and the flashpoint town of Masaka.

Reports indicate that most of the deceased were young protesters caught in the crossfire as police used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse crowds gathered at polling stations.

Dozens of opposition activists, including prominent polling agents, have been detained on charges of “inciting public disorder.”

Residents have reported significant social media outages and “throttling” of internet speeds, a move criticized by international observers as a hindrance to transparency.

The Electoral Commission (EC) has begun releasing data from approximately 40% of polling stations. As expected, the 79-year-old Museveni, seeking to extend his 40-year rule, has taken a significant early lead.

Bobi Wine, the leading opposition figure, has already dismissed the early results as a “theatrical fabrication.” Speaking from his residence, which remains surrounded by military personnel, he alleged widespread ballot stuffing and the intimidation of his polling agents.

“The world is watching. These numbers do not reflect the will of the Ugandan people. We have documented proof of massive fraud, and we will not accept this daylight robbery. Our people are being killed for simply wanting change.” – Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine).

Monitoring missions from the African Union (AU) and the East African Community (EAC) have expressed “deep concern” over the loss of life. While they have noted that the voting process was technically orderly in some rural strongholds, they have called for a transparent investigation into the violence in urban centers.

The Electoral Commission has 48 hours from the close of polls to announce the final official results. If the current trend holds, President Museveni will be declared the winner by tomorrow evening, Saturday, 17 January 2026.

Security remains tight across Kampala, with armored personnel carriers patrolling the streets to prevent any post-election uprisings as the final tallying continues.