Uganda’s Electoral Commission officially declared Yoweri Museveni the winner of the January 15, 2026, presidential election on Saturday, securing his seventh term in office. Museveni, 81, who has led the East African nation since 1986, reportedly obtained 71.65% of the vote, defeating his primary challenger, the pop-star-turned-politician Bobi Wine(Robert Kyagulanyi), who received 24.7%. The announcement extends one of Africa’s longest-serving presidencies to over four decades, but the victory has been overshadowed by an internet blackout and widespread reports of voter intimidation.
The election cycle was marred by high-stakes tension and violence, with Bobi Wine condemning the results as “fake” and a “total fabrication.” On Saturday, Wine revealed that he had managed to escape a military raid on his home in Kampala, while his family members remained under house arrest. Opposition supporters have called for peaceful protests, alleging that the government’s shutdown of digital communication was a deliberate attempt to hide “massive ballot stuffing” and the kidnapping of polling staff.
International rights groups, including Freedom House, have labeled the process “not free,” noting that the environment leading up to the polls was increasingly brutal. Ugandan bishops expressed deep concern over the military’s involvement in the campaign, which saw several opposition figures detained or harassed. Museveni’s supporters, however, celebrated the results as a mandate for continued stability and economic growth, pointing to his long-standing role as a regional security partner in the Great Lakes region.
