Preliminary results from Uganda’s 2026 presidential election show incumbent President Yoweri Museveni leading the race with approximately 61.7 per cent of votes tallied so far, according to the Electoral Commission. The figures are based on the first batch of results received from 133 polling stations across the country, representing a small fraction of the total vote count.
Museveni, 81, who has governed Uganda since 1986 and is seeking a seventh term, holds a significant advantage over his principal challenger, National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, who has about 33.6 per cent of votes in the early count.
The election has unfolded under heightened tension, including an internet shutdown imposed by the government, technical problems with biometric voter verification machines, and reports of heavy security deployments at polling stations.
Observers emphasise that the provisional tallies are subject to change as more results are transmitted and verified in the coming days, with the constitution requiring final results within 48 hours of polling closure.
Opposition figures have raised concerns about the electoral environment, including claims of irregularities and restricted access to digital communication, though comprehensive independent assessments remain limited until full results are published.
