Ugandans headed to the polls on Thursday, January 15, 2026, for a high-stakes presidential election that saw 81-year-old incumbent Yoweri Museveni challenged by popular singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine. The voting process was marred by a nationwide internet blackout and significant delays caused by the failure of Biometric Voter Verification Machines (BVVM) in several districts, including the capital, Kampala. While Museveni vied for a seventh term to extend his 40-year rule, Bobi Wine, 43, described the election as a “war” against a military dictatorship.
Bobi Wine has accused the government of “massive ballot-stuffing” and noted that several of his party agents were arrested during the blackout. “We are holding elections in the dark,” Wine told reporters after casting his vote in the Magere district. Despite these tensions, the Ugandan Red Cross reported that the day passed without major outbreaks of violence, though a heavy police and military presence was visible throughout the country. Rights groups like Human Rights Watch have criticized the pre-election environment, citing the “brutal repression” of opposition supporters and the suspension of election-monitoring NGOs.
President Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, campaigned on a platform of “protecting the gains” and maintaining regional security. Even the President encountered technical difficulties with the biometric machines, which initially failed to recognize his thumbprints before allowing him to vote via facial recognition. Museveni dismissed claims of rigging and urged citizens to respect the process, while his supporters praised the “peace and security” his administration has provided over the last four decades despite numerous corruption scandals.
Official results are expected within 48 hours, with a candidate needing more than 50% of the vote to avoid a runoff.
