NRM says win indicates Ugandans' satisfaction with Museveni as opposition cries foul

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The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has attributed its strong performance in the just-concluded General Election to improved service delivery and President Yoweri Museveni’s leadership, saying the results indicate that Ugandans are satisfied with his stewardship.

NRM’s senior manager for information, communication and public relations, Rogers Mulindwa, says NRM was encouraged by President Museveni’s commanding lead over the closest challenger, National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu.

As of today (January 17, 2026) morning, provisional results released by the Electoral Commission (EC) showed President Museveni leading with 73 per cent of the vote, followed by Kyagulanyi at 22 per cent, while Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi trailed at 1.8 per cent.

According to EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, the results were compiled from 41,177 polling stations, representing 81.5 per cent of the total.

Byabakama said Museveni had garnered 6,851,921 votes (73.7 per cent), Kyagulanyi 2,105,921 votes, and Mafabi 175,331 votes. In addition, NRM has performed excellently in the parliamentary elections and claimed several seats in Opposition strongholds, including Kampala.

Three major reasons

“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 (PDM) as one of the Government’s key policy interventions that resonated with voters. He also credited the NRM’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 is incomparable to any other. These three factors were very key in winning us this support,” he said.

Voting challenges affected all parties

Addressing criticism from the Opposition, particularly 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 Electoral Commission (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.

NRM satisfied with the outcome

Despite the challenges, Mulindwa said the NRM was satisfied with the results, noting that in Bukedi 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.

Systematic interference

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,” he said.

However, Lawyer Benjamin Katana, also from the Opposition, said some of the announced results did not tally with the 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.