Uganda woke up tense on Thursday as polls officially opened for the Uganda Election 2026.
This vote is widely expected to extend President Yoweri Museveni’s nearly four-decade rule. However, the election has been shadowed by fear, force, and a nationwide internet blackout.
Voting began amid heavy police and military patrols, especially in Kampala and the eastern town of Jinja, where security forces flooded the streets before sunrise. Several polling stations opened late, triggering frustration from voters and swift condemnation from the opposition. Regardless, voting was underway shortly after 7AM local time in some areas. 
Partial results are expected later in the day once polls close, with final presidential results legally due within 48 hours.
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The Internet Blackout Has Increased Tension
Two days before voting, authorities ordered mobile network operators to block public internet access.
According to the government, this move is necessary to curb misinformation and electoral fraud. Critics, however, see it as a familiar pre-election playbook.
The United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) called the shutdown “deeply worrying.” They stress that open access to information is essential for free and genuine elections.
Ugandan newspapers echoed the anxiety, with the Daily Monitor publishing a full-page guide on how to “election-proof your home.” They advised reinforced doors, windows, and even safe rooms.
When a country starts preparing living rooms like bunkers, the mood is clear.
Museveni vs Bobi Wine Go At It for the Second Time
President Museveni, 81, is seeking a seventh term, having ruled Uganda since 1986. His main challenger is Bobi Wine, the 43-year-old pop star-turned-politician whose campaign has been repeatedly disrupted by police, tear gas, and mass arrests.
Wine has described the election as a “war,” accusing the government of planning to rig the vote and silence dissent. “They don’t want the rest of the world to see,” he told AFP, while appearing at rallies wearing a flak jacket.
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Uganda’s youth, with 70% of the population under 35, remain central to the contest. With unemployment and economic frustration, it appears there’s enough driving first-time voters toward change.
Uganda Election 2026: Threats, Warnings, and an Electoral Chief Under Pressure
Election tensions deepened after Electoral Commission chair, Simon Byabakama revealed he had received threats warning him against declaring certain candidates winners.
He said this in response to a viral video suggesting Bobi Wine would never be declared president. Byabakama insisted he would follow the law, not intimidation.
“The candidate who receives more than 50% plus one of valid votes is president,” he said. “What voters decide is what I will declare.”
Security forces, he added, were deployed to maintain peace, not intimidate voters. Although the commission is investigating reports of polling stations located inside military premises.
What Happens Next?
With 21.6 million registered voters, a youth-heavy electorate, and a deeply polarised political landscape, Uganda’s election is about more than today’s results. Observers are watching closely for signs of unrest, legitimacy, and what the vote says about Museveni’s eventual succession. For now, Uganda votes offline, heavily guarded, and watched by the world.
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