LIVE BLOG: Museveni Crosses 5 Million Votes, Maintains Early Lead

Ugandans went to the polls on January 15 to vote for their next president, with the incumbent President Yoweri Museveni still seeking another term. The Kenya Times will continue to provide updates as official results steadily trickle in.  The elections came in the wake of a nationwide internet shutdown that restricted online communication and access to social media during the voting period.

Museveni, 81, has also cracked the whip on civil societies, closing several nongovernmental organisations. His closest challenger is Bobi Wine, after unconstitutionally barring veteran politician Kizza Besigye from vying. Besigye is in jail.

Uganda has 21,681,491 registered voters. 

3:00 PM: Museveni Crosses 5 Million Votes, Maintains Early Lead

Vote counting continues in Uganda, with the country remaining peaceful. Here are the latest presidential results:

• Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (NRM): 5,148,845 votes – 75.38%

• Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu (NUP): 1,414,619 votes – 20.71%

• Nathana Nandala Mafabi (FDC): 144,564 votes – 2.12%

• Mugisha Muntu (ANT): 38,582 votes – 0.56%

• Frank Bulira (Revolutionary People’s Party): 29,713 votes – 0.44%

• Robert Kasibante (National Peasants Party): 20,626 votes – 0.30%

• Mubarak Munyagwa (Common Man’s Party): 19,034 votes – 0.28%

• Joseph Mabirizi (Conservative Party): 14,106 votes – 0.21%

Other parliamentary seats announced so far include: Gerald Nangoli, who has won the Elgon County North seat; FDC’s Hassan Kaps Funagaroo, elected to represent Obongi County; Nyasio Mudimi, who secured the Elgon County – Bulambuli seat as an independent candidate; and Ivan Kyeyune of the National Unity Platform, who won the Nakasongola County seat.

However, drama unfolded at the Kampala Tally Centre in Kololo, where forms belonging to NUP candidate Fred Nyanzi Sentamu, contesting for the Kawempe South seat, were reportedly confiscated.

11: 30 am: Bobi Wine’s Home Remains Under Heavy Military Security

The National Unity Platform (NUP) treasurer Benjamin Katana has claimed that the home of its presidential candidate, Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, is under military and police siege.

The official alleged that Kyagulanyi’s residence was surrounded by security forces on Thursday evening, preventing him from interacting with his agents.

“The man is under military siege. His home was surrounded by the army and police last evening. He’s not able to interact with his agents.” he said.

He also questioned the transparency of the vote tallying process, saying candidates had been invited to observe results but were not provided with verifiable details of polling stations.

Katana said the Electoral Commission announced results from thousands of polling stations without disclosing their specific locations, making it impossible for candidates to verify the figures.

11:00 am: Presidential Results

The Electoral body of Uganda has stated that it will announce the Presidential results by Saturday before 5pm.

The results will determine if President Yoweri Museveni will retain the seat.

09:50 am: Museveni Holds Clear Lead Over Bobi Wine

With 45% of polling stations reporting on Friday morning, Uganda’s Electoral Commission announced that President Yoweri Museveni is leading with 76.25% (3.9 million votes), while Bobi Wine has 19.85% (1.3 million votes).

So far, most areas in Uganda remain peaceful as vote counting continues.

1:00 am: Museveni Takes an Early Lead

Uganda’s Electoral Commission Chairperson Simon Byabakama announced the first preliminary results from 133 polling stations in the 2026 presidential election. 

The results are as follows:

• Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (NRM): 14,232 votes — 61.7%

• Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (NUP): 7,753 votes — 33.6%

• Nathana Nandala Mafabi (FDC): 560 votes — 2.43%

• Mugisha Muntu (ANT): 164 votes — 0.71%

• Mubarak Munyagwa (Common Man’s Party): 145 votes — 0.63%

• Frank Buliira (Revolutionary People’s Party): 84 votes — 0.36%

• Robert Kasibante (National Peasants’ Party): 66 votes — 0.29%

• Joseph Mabirizi (Conservative Party): 45 votes — 0.20%

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