Uganda’s long-serving President Yoweri Museveni has secured a seventh term in office.
According to the announcement from the country’s Electoral Commission, he claimed 71.65% of the vote in the Uganda Election 2026 results.
His main challenger, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, trailed with about 24.7%, according to official results. These results have set the stage for celebration and controversy. 
Museveni, 81, first took power in 1986 and has reshaped Uganda’s political landscape over four decades. He removed age and term limits along the way to extend his stay.
Supporters credit him with ending years of post-independence chaos and driving economic growth. “I’m really very happy to see he’s won,” said one teacher at a Kampala rally. However, observers noted the mood was surprisingly subdued given the stakes.
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Why the Uganda Election 2026 Sparked So Much Controversy
But the road to results was anything but calm. In the lead-up to the vote, a nationwide internet blackout drew sharp criticism from the United Nations. The UN called the shutdown “deeply worrying” for transparency. Internet access was limited for days, making it hard for independent monitoring and fuelling suspicion online.
Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) dismissed the vote as a “sham.” For the singer-turned-politician, he claimed he narrowly escaped a night raid on his home.
His party alleged intimidation and arrests of supporters, and some opposition figures reported heavy security presence at polling sites. While African Union observers said they found no evidence of ballot stuffing, they did warn that reports of intimidation, arrests, and abductions undermined trust in the process.
The election was also marred by violence. Opposition sources said at least 10 people were killed in clashes around the country, though official figures were lower. Police claimed some incidents involved machete-wielding attackers targeting their posts.
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What Museveni’s Victory Means for Ugandans
Despite opposition calls for non-violent protests and demands for the internet to be restored, Museveni’s victory has been cemented.
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is also expected to retain strong control of parliamentary seats, according to provisional counts.
As Uganda moves past the polls, there are contemplations. Many young voters, who form a demographic that largely backed Bobi Wine, are left in limbo.
For now, the Uganda election 2026 results have been announced. Still, the process tells a story of political continuity and unresolved tension in equal parts.
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