President Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of Uganda’s 2026 presidential election, extending his rule beyond three decades after a closely fought poll held under tight security conditions.
The announcement was made on Saturday by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Simon Byabakama, who said the incumbent secured more than 7.9 million votes, the highest tally among all candidates.
Byabakama said 81-year-old Museveni crossed the constitutional threshold by winning over half of the total valid votes cast, confirming him as the duly elected president.
“Having obtained the highest number of votes in the election and the votes cast in his favour being more than 50 per cent of the total valid votes cast at the election, the Commission hereby declares Candidate Yoweri Museveni as the winner of the election,” he said.
Official figures released by the commission showed that about 11.4 million voters took part in Thursday’s election, representing a turnout of 52.5 per cent of registered voters.
The election was widely described as tightly contested and took place amid an internet blackout and restrictions on civil society organisations, measures that drew criticism from opposition groups and election observers.
Museveni, who first came to power in 1986, will now begin another term in office, further cementing his position as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
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