Following a fiercely heated election that involved an internet shutdown and restrictions on civil society organizations, Uganda announced President Yoweri Museveni as the winning candidate of the 2026 presidential elections, thus extending his four-decade rule.
The long-serving leader received more than 7.9 million votes, the most of any contender, according to the declaration given by Simon Byabakama, the chairperson of the electoral commission.
The commission reported that Mr. Museveni, who took office in 1986, received more than half of the votes cast, surpassing the necessary threshold.
“Having obtained the highest number of votes in the election and the votes cast in his favor 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,” Mr Byabakama stated.” Mr. Byabakama announced. Official statistics show that 11.4 million people cast ballots in Thursday’s election, representing 52.5% of all registered voters.