Presidential election winner announcement for before 5:00pm Saturday—EC chief Byabakama

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The winner of the 2026 presidential race will be announced before 5:00pm on Saturday, January 17, 2026, Electoral Commission (EC) chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama has said.

Speaking at the opening of the national tally centre at Lubowa EC headquarters for the 2026 Presidential elections, Byabakama said the constituency of the Presidential candidate is the entire country. 

“Accordingly, the EC will tally all the results in the district or cities of Uganda at Lweza and finally declare the elected candidate within 48 hours from the closure of polls. This is the venue that was gazetted in accordance with the law for purposes of hosting the national tally centre for the presidential elections,” Byabakama said.

He revealed that the tallying of results started on Thursday and is expected to conclude on January 17, 2026, before 5:00 pm in accordance with the Constitution and the Presidential Elections Act.

Article 103 (7) of the Constitution states that, “The Electoral Commission shall ascertain, publish and declare in writing under its seal, the results of the presidential election within forty-eight hours from the close of polling.”

Byabakama said to ensure transparency, access to the tally centre had been granted to duly accredited media personnel, national and international observers, agents of presidential and political parties and other guests.

Among those who attended are ambassadors and heads of missions, heads of observer missions, international and local, representatives of presidential candidates and political parties, civil society groups, inter-religious faith leaders and media.

Peaceful elections

Byabakama said the exercise had been generally peaceful across Uganda.

“We once again salute the people of Uganda for turning up in huge numbers to elect their leaders and conducting themselves in peaceful manner and for bearing with us as the commission. As we talk now the counting votes has been concluded and as the declaration of the results gets underway, the Commission wishes to call on all candidates, their agents and supporters to keep calm and be tolerant,” he said.

He also gave out the detailed procedure for the declaration of the 2026 presidential and parliamentary elections results, which he said would be as follows:

After the counting of ballot papers cast at the polling station, the results of each polling station will be filled on the declaration results forms and the outcomes in that polling station announced by the presiding officer as required by the law, first beginning with the presidential results, followed by the directly elected Member of Parliament and then finally the District or City Woman MP.

From the polling station, the results and all other contents that were used at that polling station will be delivered to the sub-county headquarters, which is the central collection point in that sub-county. They will then be conveyed to the district tally centre headed by the returning officer.

“We want to emphasise that the envelopes containing the results of the various categories of elections can only be opened at the district tally centre and not at the sub-county centre. The sub-county centre is merely a collection centre in that sub-county which were deployed at every polling centre are gathered for onward transmission to the centre,” he said.

At the district or city tally centre, the results should be delivered to the district or city returning officer, who will tally and declare the results of the directly elected MP’s and for constituencies in that district or city and the results of the woman MP for the district or city.

“As for the Presidential election results, these are being transmitted to the national tally centre in Lweza, Lubowa in Wakiso district,” Byabakama said.

Museveni in early lead

Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni on Friday maintained his early lead, according to the latest and second set of preliminary results released by the Electoral Commission (EC) at 9:30am today, January 16, 2026.

Byabakama said the total number of polling stations from which they have received results so far is 22,758, representing 44.85% of the total number of polling stations.

“Valid votes in total so far are 5,194,338, invalid votes so far 129,441, representing 2.43% of the total votes cast. Total votes received so far, 5,323,779, representing 24.59% of the registered from the national voters register, spoilt votes 17, 281,” Byabakama said, insisting that was the position currently.

The total number of registered voters is 21,649,067 on the national voters register. The total number of polling stations, 50,739.

• Museveni, who is the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag-bearer, has scored 3,960,438 votes, representing 76.25% of the valid votes counted so far.

• Frank Bulira Kabinga of Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) scored 23,267, representing 0.45% of the valid votes cast.
• Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party 15,929, representing 0.31%.
• Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform (NUP) 1,312,047 votes, representing 19.65%.
• Joseph Mabirizi of the Conservative Party scored 10,920, representing 0.21%.
• Gregory Mugisha Muntu of Alliance for National Transformation scored 29,504 votes, representing 0.57%.
• Mubarak Munyagwa of Common Man's Party scored 14,742 votes, representing 0.28%.
• James Nathan Nandala Mafabi of Forum for Democratic Change scored 108,301 votes, representing 2.08%.

The total number of registered voters is 21,649,067 on the national voters register. The total number of polling stations is 50,739.

Byabakama said EC would be releasing the result at regular intervals, and the next session will be at 2:00 pm on Friday.