Uganda Election 2026: Incumbent Museveni takes early presidential lead

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Incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the National Resistance Movement (NRM) official candidate in the January 15, 2026, General Election, took an early lead in the first preliminary results released by Electoral Commission (EC) Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama at 10:30 pm on Thursday.

The results indicated:

1. Museveni had scored 14,232 votes, representing 61.7% of the valid votes counted so far. 
2. Frank Bulira Kabinga of Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) scored 84 votes, representing 0.36% .
3. Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party 66, representing 0.29%.
4. Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform (NUP) 7,753 votes representing 33.64%.
5. Joseph Mabirizi of the Conservative Party scored 45, representing 0.20%.
6. Gregory Mugisha Muntu of Alliance for National Transformation scored 164 votes, representing 0.71%.
7. Mubarak Munyagwa of Common Man's Party scored 145 votes, representing 0.63%.
8. James Nathan Nandala Mafabi of Forum for Democratic Change scored 560 votes, representing 2.45%.
   
   

Byabakama said, “these are the preliminary results that the commission has received and ascertained so far from the 133 polling stations representing 0.26% of total polling stations”.

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

He said the invalid votes so far were 796, representing 3.34% of the total votes cast. The total number of votes all together 23,845, representing 0.11% votes of the total number of registered votes. The spoiled votes are 37. That is the position as of now,” Byabakama noted.

EC is expected to release more results today, Friday, January 16, 2026, at 9:00 am at the national tally centre in Lweza in Wakiso district.