KAMPALA, Uganda — Ugandans went to the polls on Thursday 15, January 2026 in a highly contested general election overshadowed by an internet shutdown, technical failures at polling stations and heavy security presence, with incumbent President Yoweri Museveni pursuing a seventh term in office.
The vote, seen by analysts as a test of the 81‑year‑old leader’s political grip and the resilience of Uganda’s democratic institutions, unfolded amid widespread tensions following a campaign marked by violence and restrictions on civic space.
After casting his ballot in Rwakitura in western Uganda, Museveni told reporters he expected to secure “80% of the vote if there’s no cheating,” dismissing the prospect of an upset by his main challenger, opposition leader Bobi Wine.
Security forces were deployed across the capital Kampala and other major urban centres ahead of Thursday’s voting, with soldiers patrolling streets and checkpoints set up around polling areas.
Technical and logistical disruptions
Voting opened under challenging conditions, with many polling stations delayed by hours because biometric voter verification machines were malfunctioning. Officials in several locations resorted to using paper registers to avoid disenfranchising voters, according to local reports.
Registered voter Juma Katongole told reporters in Kampala he had been unable to vote because the required biometric equipment was not operational.
“As a voter I am frustrated because I came here to vote, but now I think I am losing confidence in voting,” he said.
Delays in opening polling stations were reported both in the capital and in other regions, and have added to public frustration.
Internet shutdown and restrictions
Two days before polling day, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) ordered a nationwide internet blackout, citing the need to curb misinformation, electoral fraud and incitement to violence. The shutdown has also disrupted key services, including banking and mobile communications.
Opposition figures and civil society groups, as well as the United Nations and human rights organisations, condemned the move as an anti‑democratic tactic that undermines transparency and civic participation at a critical juncture.
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, criticised the blackout as an attempt to facilitate electoral manipulation. He said the shutdown was intended to hinder communication and limit accountability.
Campaign climate and opposition response
The election has been contentious throughout, with Wine and his supporters accusing authorities of intimidation, arbitrary arrests and the disruption of campaign events.
Security forces have been accused of violence against opposition rallies, resulting in at least one death during the campaign period.
Wine, 43, a charismatic musician‑turned‑politician who draws significant support among young and urban voters, urged his supporters to remain vigilant at polling stations and to protest non‑violently if the process is compromised.
An official from the National Unity Platform (NUP) described the internet shutdown as part of a broader attempt to influence the election outcome, accusing authorities of militarising the state and tightening control over information.
Historical context and stakes
Museveni, who first came to power in 1986, has rewritten the constitution twice to remove age and term limits, enabling his extended tenure. He has portrayed his leadership as a guarantor of stability and economic progress, and his campaign slogan focuses on “Protecting the Gains” achieved under his long rule.
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Wine’s campaign resonates with younger voters alarmed by limited economic opportunities in a country with a median age of just over 16.
Beyond the presidential vote, Ugandans are electing more than 520 Members of Parliament (MPs). More than 21.6 million citizens were registered for the polls, and results are expected within 48 hours of the closure of voting at 4:00 p.m. local time.
Regional and international reactions
International observers and rights groups have raised concerns that the internet blackout and security restrictions could fuel unrest and hinder a transparent electoral outcome.
United Nations rights officials have emphasised that open access to information is essential for free and fair elections.
As the day progressed, there were no widespread reports of large‑scale violence, but the tense atmosphere and structural impediments to the voting process have cast a spotlight on Uganda’s democratic trajectory and the durability of its political institutions.
