Uganda’s Electoral Commission has officially declared President Yoweri Museveni the winner of the 2026 presidential election, extending his more than three-decade hold on power following a tightly contested vote marked by an internet shutdown and restrictions on civil society groups.
The announcement was made by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Simon Byabakama, who said the long-serving leader secured over 7.9 million votes, the highest among all candidates.
Byabakama noted that Museveni, who first came to power in 1986, surpassed the constitutional requirement by polling more than 50 per cent of the total valid votes cast.
“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,” Byabakama said.
According to official figures released by the commission, about 11.4 million Ugandans voted in Thursday’s election, representing a turnout of 52.50 per cent of registered voters.
Further details on the outcome and reactions from opposition parties are expected to emerge in the coming days.