Uganda’s Electoral Commission has declared President Yoweri Museveni the winner of the 2026 presidential election, extending his decades-long rule of the East African nation.
The announcement was made on Friday by the commission’s chairperson, Simon Byabakama, who said the 81-year-old leader secured more than 7.9 million votes, the highest total among all candidates.
Mr Byabakama confirmed that Museveni surpassed the constitutional requirement by winning over 50 per cent of the valid votes cast, thereby securing outright victory.
“Having obtained the highest number of votes in the election and the votes cast in his favour being more than 50 per cent of the total valid votes cast, the Commission hereby declares Candidate Yoweri Museveni as the winner of the election,” he said.
According to official figures, about 11.4 million voters participated in Thursday’s poll, representing a turnout of 52.5 per cent of registered voters.
The election was closely contested and took place amid reports of an internet blackout and restrictions on civil society organisations. Museveni, who first came to power in 1986, will now extend his rule to nearly four decades.
Al-Jazeera.
