Yoweri Museveni Declared Winner of Uganda’s 2026 Presidential Election
Kampala, Uganda — Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Uganda’s long‑serving president, has been declared the winner of the 2026 presidential election, securing a seventh consecutive term in office, according to official election results published by the Electoral Commission (EC).
The EC said Museveni received 7,946,772 votes in the election held on 15 January 2026, representing a commanding 75% share of the total votes cast and outpacing seven other candidates. His closest challenger received 2,741,238 votes.
Historic Seventh Term
At 81 years old, Museveni extends his presidency into its fifth decade, having first taken office in 1986. His victory continues one of Africa’s longest uninterrupted tenures by a head of state. The outcome was confirmed following the collation of results from polling stations nationwide, as mandated by Uganda’s electoral laws.
Museveni, leader of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), has dominated Uganda’s political landscape since coming to power, overseeing periods of relative stability, infrastructure development, and economic growth. His supporters highlight achievements in national development and security as key reasons for his continued leadership.
Election Administration and Final Results
The Electoral Commission’s announcement of Museveni’s victory follows a scheduled vote that saw millions of Ugandans participate in choosing the president as well as parliamentary and local government representatives. The EC’s collation process concluded that Museveni secured a decisive majority of the valid votes cast.
According to the commission, Museveni’s total surpassed that of all other contenders combined, reflecting broad electoral support across multiple regions. The EC is expected to publish detailed, constituency‑level results and the official gazette notification confirming Museveni’s win in the coming days.
Political Context
Uganda’s 2026 election drew significant domestic and international attention, in part because it pitted a long‑time incumbent against several challengers in a politically charged environment. As president since the mid‑1980s, Museveni’s leadership has been both praised for maintaining political stability and critiqued by some analysts for the protracted consolidation of executive power.
Ahead of the vote, the ruling party nominated Museveni as its candidate, emphasising continuity and development priorities, including infrastructure expansion, economic resilience, and regional security cooperation.
Looking Ahead
With official results now confirmed, Museveni will continue to lead Uganda’s government and oversee the implementation of national policies for the next five years. His new term is expected to shape the country’s domestic and foreign policy direction, engage with ongoing regional initiatives in East Africa, and address long‑standing challenges such as youth employment and economic inequality.
The electoral process and final outcome are now part of Uganda’s political history, marking another chapter in the governance of a nation that has seen remarkable transformation over the past four decades under Museveni’s leadership.
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