NRM credits service delivery for President Museveni's win

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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has attributed its strong performance in the 2026 general elections to improved service delivery and President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership, saying the results show that Ugandans are satisfied with his stewardship.

Rogers Mulindwa, the NRM senior manager for information, communication and public relations, said the ruling party drew confidence from President Museveni’s showing against his closest challenger, National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

Uganda's Electoral Commission (EC) on Saturday (January 17) declared President Yoweri Museveni of the NRM the winner of the 2026 presidential election after securing 71.65% of the vote with 7,946,772 votes followed by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform (NUP) with 2,741,238 votes (24.72%) while Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate James Nathan Nandala Mafabi got 209,039 votes (1.88%).

Gregory Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) polled 59,276 votes, representing 0.53 per cent of the total, followed by Frank Bulira Kabinga of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) with 45,959 votes (0.41 per cent), while Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party (NPP) secured 33,440 votes, equivalent to 0.30 per cent.

Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man’s Party (CMP) garnered 31,666 votes (0.29 per cent), as Joseph Mabirizi of the Conservative Party (CP) trailed with 23,458 votes, accounting for 0.21 per cent.

“There were basically three major reasons,” Mulindwa said. “First is improved service delivery. What we have done in the districts is there for everyone to see. Second is the message of hope the President was giving, where we have come from and where we want to go.”

Mulindwa cited the Parish Development Model as one of the government’s key policy interventions that resonated with voters. He also credited the party’s performance to what he described as the strength and experience of President Museveni as a candidate.

“We had a candidate who is knowledgeable about the country and politics. When you look at him, he was incomparable to any other. These three factors were very key in winning us this support,” he said.

Responding to criticism from the opposition, particularly the NUP, over malfunctioning biometric voter verification machines and alleged state interference in the campaign, Mulindwa dismissed the claims, saying the challenges affected all parties.

He argued that failures of the biometric machines could not have selectively disadvantaged the opposition, noting that NRM supporters were equally affected.

“Usually, elderly people and women, who largely support the NRM, are the ones who arrive at polling stations early. They waited and were disappointed,” Mulindwa said, blaming the EC for what he described as incompetence.

“Actually, the EC made three major errors, especially delaying the distribution of voting materials. In Busia, by 9:00am, some polling stations had not received materials. The same happened in Pallisa and Butebo,” he said.

Mulindwa added that even where materials arrived on time, biometric machines failed to function, a situation worsened by delays in authorising manual voting.

“Some of us, as early as 8:00am had realised the machines had failed and were ready to go manual. I personally had to drive to the Busia returning officer’s office to push for clearance from Kampala,” he said, admitting that voter turnout was inevitably affected.

Despite the challenges, Mulindwa said the NRM was satisfied with the results, noting that in the Bukedi sub-region, where he was in charge, no opposition candidate won a parliamentary seat. He added that in Tororo district, the party lost only one seat to an independent candidate, Jay Tanna, who defeated NRM’s Yeri Ofwono.

“This is a statement that Ugandans have been told many lies by the Opposition, but they are saying, ‘No, the old man must take us forward,’” Mulindwa said.

On allegations that security forces used violence against the opposition, potentially tilting the election in favour of the NRM, Mulindwa defended the state’s actions.

“The state must continue to function even during elections. For opposition actors who behaved well, there was no problem. Where arrests were made, I place the blame entirely on the opposition,” he said.

NUP cries foul

When contacted, NUP spokesperson Joel Senyonyi initially said he had limited information but later insisted that his party’s performance was undermined by what he described as systematic interference.

“We have a mafia state operating in a mafia way. Institutions have broken down, and powerful individuals decide what happens. That explains what we are seeing,” Senyonyi said.

He argued that any assessment of the election should consider not only polling day but also events during the campaign period.

“An election is not a single-day event. What happened during campaigns must be factored in,” he said.

Senyonyi also criticised the malfunctioning voting machines, saying the EC entered the election ill-prepared, creating conditions that disproportionately affected the opposition.

“We had five years to prepare, but an incompetent state run in a mafia style is why we are where we are,” he said.

However, lawyer and NUP national treasurer Benjamin Katana said some of the announced results did not tally with declaration forms collected from polling stations.

“Because of the internet shutdown, we do not have all the results. But from the ones we have, there are clear discrepancies between what is being presented and what was declared at polling stations,” Katana said.