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Ugandans are voting today, January 15, 2026, in a tense presidential election marked by delays, tight security and an internet shutdown.
More than 21 million registered voters are taking part in the vote. Many are casting their ballots without internet access, while police and security forces are heavily deployed across the country.
The election is mainly a contest between President Yoweri Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, and opposition leader Bobi Wine.
Yoweri Museveni (National Resistance Movement)
Museveni is 81 and seeking a seventh term in office. He came to power after a guerrilla war, first against Amin and later in the Luwero Triangle bush war that propelled him to the presidency, which ended years of violence and military rule.
Museveni’s rule has been marked by both achievements and controversies. He oversaw economic growth, expanded access to education and healthcare, and positioned Uganda as a regional military power with interventions in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Critics, however, accuse him of entrenching authoritarianism: amending the constitution to remove term limits in 2005 and age limits in 2017, suppressing dissent through arrests and media shutdowns, and fostering a family dynasty—his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, now heads the military and has openly mused about succeeding him.
“I will be President of Uganda after my father,” he said in 2023, writing on social platform X. “Those fighting the truth will be very disappointed.”
In this campaign, Museveni runs on a “Protecting the Gains” platform, calling for peace and infrastructure development while dismissing opponents as agents of chaos.
Bobi Wine (National Unity Platform)
Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, is 43 and represents a younger generation calling for political change. Raised in Mpigi District and in Kampala’s gritty Kamwokya slum, Wine rose to fame as a reggae and dancehall artist with hits like “Kiwani” that critiqued social ills.
His transition to politics began in 2017 when he won a parliamentary by-election as an independent, galvanising young voters with his “People Power” movement. Wine’s 2021 presidential bid, where he officially garnered 35% against Museveni’s 59%, was marred by violence: he was arrested multiple times, shot at during rallies, and accused the regime of rigging.
Wine is running again on promises to fight corruption, create jobs and restore democratic freedoms. His campaign has faced arrests, harassment and restrictions, and he has repeatedly warned of attempts to rig the vote.
Other candidates
Several other candidates are contesting the presidency, though none are widely seen as front-runners.
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Mugisha Muntu (Alliance for National Transformation) is a former army commander and former opposition party leader who campaigns on discipline, institutions, and gradual reform.
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Nandala Mafabi (Forum for Democratic Change) is a former opposition leader in parliament, known for his experience and policy focus.
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Mubarak Munyagwa (Common Man’s Party) presents himself as a populist voice for ordinary citizens, focusing on housing and urban issues.
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Joseph Mabirizi (Conservative Party) is a lawyer and activist promising to release political prisoners within the first 100 days, emphasising climate change, ensuring that resources are utilised well to benefit every Ugandan, and equitable sharing of the national cake.
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Robert Kasibante (National Peasants Party) is a political newcomer focusing on agricultural reforms for rural peasants. Kasibante aims to address food security and farmer empowerment in a country where agriculture employs 70% of the workforce.
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Frank Bulira Kabinga (Revolutionary People’s Party) is a former secondary school teacher who calls for major political and economic reforms, including federalism and wealth redistribution. His campaign is characterised by the clear message, “Like many others, Museveni must go.”
