Ugandans voted in a tense national election on Thursday, January 15, 2026, after an often violent campaign and internet shutdown.
President Yoweri Museveni is also seeking to extend his rule into a fifth decade.
Museveni is expected to fend off a challenge from the popular singer Bobi Wine, but the election is a test of the 81-year-old president’s political strength and ability to avoid the kind of unrest that has rocked neighbours Tanzania and Kenya.
The longtime president has campaigned on a slogan of “protecting the gains”, vowing to maintain peace and lift the country into middle-income status, even as speculation swirls about his eventual succession.
Wine, a 43-year-old pop star nicknamed the “Ghetto President” for his humble origins, has appealed to young people angry about scarce economic opportunities in a country where the average age is just over 16.
Voting began in the capital Kampala amid a heavy police presence on Thursday.
Many polling stations around the country, however, had still not opened hours after the official 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) start time because biometric voter verification machines were not working, NTV Uganda reported.
Ugandan President Museveni seeks 7th term after 40 years in power
The authorities cut internet access across the country on Tuesday in order to curb what they called “misinformation” about the election, leading many Ugandans to turn to an offline messaging app launched by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey.
Casting his ballot in the Kasangati township, Ronald Tenywa, a 45-year-old university researcher, complained that political leaders “cling on for a long time”.
“If we vote for someone who cares, things will be better for Uganda,” he said, without specifying for whom he was voting.
Security forces have repeatedly opened fire at Wine’s campaign events, killing at least one person and arresting hundreds of his supporters.
Museveni’s government has defended the security forces’ actions as a justified response to what it called lawless conduct by opposition supporters.
Besides Wine, six other opposition candidates are challenging Museveni – Africa’s third-longest-ruling head of state.
Voters will also choose more than 500 members of parliament. Polls are due to close at 4:00 p.m. with results expected to be announced within 48 hours.
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