Uganda's Pivotal Election: Museveni vs. Bobi Wine

Sat Jan 10 2026 22:54:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Uganda prepares for its general election, President Yoweri Museveni aims for a seventh term against the youthful challenger Bobi Wine, stirring a national conversation about governance, economic stability, and human rights.

Uganda is set to vote on January 15, 2026, with President Yoweri Museveni seeking his seventh consecutive term in office against prominent opposition leader Bobi Wine. The election campaign has been marred by unrest and allegations of human rights violations. Economic concerns, particularly youth unemployment, are at the forefront as voters head to the polls amid fears regarding the fairness of the elections.

Uganda's Pivotal Election: Museveni vs. Bobi Wine

As Ugandans go to the polls next week they are faced with a choice of propelling a leader into his fifth decade in power or backing a candidate seeking to capitalise on the desire for change from some quarters.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, in office since 1986, is aiming for a seventh successive election victory.

His main challenger, pop-star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, 43, has promised a revolution in governance and sweeping reforms.

Campaigning has been marked by the disruption of opposition activities, including the detention of activists and the breaking-up of rallies by police.

With high rates of youth unemployment in a country where the majority of the population is under 30, the economy has become a key concern in the campaign.

When is Uganda's general election?

Polling is scheduled for Thursday 15 January. Polls are due to open at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) and close at 16:00. Anyone in the queue at that time will be allowed to vote.

What are Ugandans voting for?

The 21.6 million registered voters will be taking part in three elections:

Presidential - there are eight candidates to choose from

Parliamentary (constituency MPs) - 353 constituency MPs will be elected

Parliamentary (women representatives) - 146 women representatives - one per local district - will be elected

Who could be the next president?

Museveni and Bobi Wine are the two front-runners among the all-male list of eight hopefuls. This is the second time they are facing each other in a presidential election.

Yoweri Museveni - National Resistance Movement (NRM): Museveni has ruled since he first came to power by force as a guerrilla leader. His long tenure has been criticized for human rights abuses. Despite a diminishing popularity, he continues to emphasize stability and security as his justification for remaining in power.

Bobi Wine - National Unity Platform (NUP): A popular youthful figure, Wine encapsulates the aspirations of young Ugandans. Having previously lost against Museveni, he now poses a significant challenge owing to his appeal among the youth and urban populations.

What are the key concerns for voters?

Economic issues, particularly unemployment, are paramount as the average income rises but job opportunities lag behind. Infrastructure and access to education and healthcare are pressing issues, alongside corruption, which remains pervasive in governance.

Will the vote be free and fair?

Despite government assurances, there are significant concerns regarding the integrity of the election process, with human rights organizations citing harassment of opposition supporters and fears of internet disruptions possibly restricting transparency.

When will we know the results?

The outcome of the presidential vote is expected to be known by 16:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Saturday, 17 January, following the electoral commission's requirement to declare results within 48 hours of polling closing.

How does the presidential vote work?

A candidate must obtain more than 50% of the votes cast to win outright; otherwise, a second-round runoff occurs within 30 days between the top two candidates.