By Ghazali Ibrahim
Long-serving Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been declared the winner of the country’s 2026 presidential election, securing a seventh five-year term in office and extending his rule that began in 1986 to nearly four decades.
According to official results announced on January 17, 2026, by the Uganda Electoral Commission, Museveni, 81, garnered 71.65% of the votes cast, while his closest challenger, opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, received 24.72%.
The victory allows Museveni to remain in power for another five years, reinforcing his position as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. He first came to power after leading a guerrilla movement that toppled the government in 1986 and has since overseen constitutional changes, including the removal of presidential age and term limits, that have paved the way for repeated re-election.
The election was held under a nationwide internet blackout imposed by authorities, a move critics say was intended to limit communication and independent reporting. Voting day also saw biometric machine failures and delayed openings at polling stations, especially in opposition strongholds.
Bobi Wine, a former pop star turned politician who has campaigned on a platform of generational change and democratic reform, rejected the results, describing them as “fake” and alleging ballot stuffing, voter intimidation and the detention of opposition agents.
His party has called for peaceful protests in response, though authorities have tightly restricted access around his residence and political activities.
The election was also marred by reports of violence and intimidation, with observers and rights groups citing instances of arrests and clashes between security forces and opposition supporters. Despite these concerns, the Electoral Commission maintained that the process was conducted and called on citizens to accept the outcome.
Museveni’s continued leadership underscores his enduring hold over Ugandan politics, raising questions about democratic space and political competition in a country that has not experienced a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence.
The president’s new term runs through 2031, and he has yet to publicly outline detailed plans for governance in the coming years, though he has previously emphasised stability and economic growth under his administration.
