The Electoral Commission will declare the winner of the presidential election within 48 hours after polling ends, chairperson Simon Byabakama has said.
Byabakama told journalists on Monday, January 12, 2026, that results will first be announced at district tally centres before being transmitted to the national tally centre in Lubowa, Wakiso District.
President Yoweri Museveni has declared January 15 and 16, 2026, as public holidays ahead of the upcoming general elections.
Uganda is set to head to the polls on January 15, 2026, in accordance with the Constitution, which mandates that every five years the President and Members of Parliament renew their mandate through universal adult suffrage by secret ballot.
“The commission will then tally results from all districts and cities at the national centre before announcing the final presidential outcome within two days of the close of polls,” Byabakama said.
The Electoral Commission nominated eight presidential candidates on September 23 and 24, 2025. Subsequently, on October 22 and 23, 2025, it nominated candidates to represent 353 directly elected Members of Parliament, 146 District Woman Representatives, and five representatives each for Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Workers, and Youths.
The presidential contenders include Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine (National Unity Platform – NUP); incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (National Resistance Movement – NRM); Elton Joseph Mabirizi (Conservative Party – CP); and Robert Kasibante (National Peasants Party – NPP).
Other candidates are Nathan Nandala Mafabi (Forum for Democratic Change – FDC); Mugisha Muntu (Alliance for National Transformation – ANT); Munyagwa Mubarak Sserunga (Common Man’s Party – CMP); and Bulira Frank Kabinga (Revolutionary People’s Party – RPP).
Bobi Wine is widely viewed as President Museveni’s strongest challenger, setting the stage for a high-stakes political rematch.
Observers believe the contest will dominate Uganda’s political discourse, reigniting debates on leadership, democracy, and the country’s future.
In the previous presidential election held on January 14, 2021, 11 candidates contested for the presidency. Of the 18,103,603 registered voters, 10,350,819 cast their ballots, representing a voter turnout of 57.2 percent.
President Museveni won the election with 6,042,898 votes (58.38 percent), while Bobi Wine finished second with 3,631,437 votes (35.08 percent). The victory extended President Museveni’s rule beyond four decades, cementing his status as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
