By Spy Uganda
Uganda has registered its lowest voter turnout in a presidential election since the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in 1996, with only 52.5 percent of registered voters participating in the January 15, 2026 presidential and parliamentary polls. The figures were released by the Electoral Commission (EC) on January 17, underscoring growing public disengagement from the electoral process.
According to the EC, 11,366,201 voters cast ballots out of 21,649,067 registered voters, meaning nearly 10.3 million eligible Ugandans (47.5 percent) did not vote.
EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi announced the final results at the National Tally Centre in Lubowa, declaring incumbent President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) the winner.
Museveni secured 7,946,772 votes (71.65 percent), extending his leadership into a seventh term since first taking power in 1986. His closest challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), garnered 2,741,238 votes (24.72 percent).
Other contenders trailed significantly, with Mugisha Muntu receiving 59,276 votes, Frank Buriira 45,959, Robert Kasibante 33,440, Mubarak Munyagwa 32,666, Joseph Mabirizi 23,458, and Nathan Nandala Mafabi 20,939.
The EC also reported 275,353 invalid votes (2.42 percent), raising concerns about voter education and ballot handling.
The low turnout has reignited debate about civic participation in a country where Article 59 of the 1995 Constitution guarantees every citizen aged 18 and above the right and duty to vote, and obligates the state to facilitate inclusive participation.
Critics argue that the scale of abstention reflects public frustration and potential violations of the Presidential Elections Act, 2005, which mandates transparency, fairness, and secure electoral procedures.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) expressed concern over the declining voter participation. Pauline Nansamba, UHRC Director for Complaints, Investigations and Legal Services, described the turnout as “alarming.”
“Voting is a fundamental civic right that appears to be increasingly ignored,” Nansamba said, adding that the Commission would analyze turnout data, investigate the causes of abstention, and brief the public on its findings.
Election observers and candidates cited widespread failures of Biometric Voter Verification Kits (BVVKs) as a major contributor to voter frustration and low turnout. The kits, introduced to enhance voter authentication and curb fraud, malfunctioned at numerous polling stations nationwide.
The EC suspended their use mid-morning and instructed officials to revert to manual voter registers—a move permitted under electoral guidelines but criticized for increasing the risk of irregularities.
In many areas, voting materials arrived between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., delaying the start of polling to late morning or midday. Although voting was extended by one hour, effective polling time was reduced to about six hours, compared to the planned ten, further limiting voter access.
Beyond logistical challenges, opposition parties and rights groups cited violence and intimidation as key deterrents. The campaign period was marked by arrests of opposition figures, restrictions on rallies, and reported assaults on supporters, echoing concerns raised in previous elections.
NUP spokesperson Benjamin Katana accused the state of suppressing turnout in opposition strongholds. “In regions like Buganda, security forces intimidated voters to tilt the outcome,” he alleged.
Voter participation varied widely across regions. Kampala and Buganda recorded turnout below 50 percent, with similarly low figures in Acholi and Busoga. Teso and Tooro registered around two-thirds turnout, while Sebei, Kigezi, and Karamoja performed better.
Ankole, President Museveni’s home region, led with nearly 75 percent turnout, followed by Karamoja at about 70 percent.
The 2026 turnout marks the lowest in Uganda’s electoral history, continuing a steady decline from over 70 percent in 1996. Analysts describe the abstention as a form of “silent protest” driven by economic hardship, distrust in institutions, and perceptions of electoral manipulation during Museveni’s nearly four-decade rule.
Opposition leaders, including Kyagulanyi, rejected the results as fraudulent, citing alleged ballot stuffing and BVVK sabotage, and vowed to challenge the outcome legally.
President Museveni, in his victory speech, acknowledged the low turnout but downplayed its significance, emphasizing the NRM’s continued dominance.
As local government elections approach on January 22, pressure is mounting on authorities to implement electoral reforms to restore public confidence in Uganda’s democratic process.
