Preliminary results from Uganda’s 2026 presidential election, released shortly before 11pm Thursday, show incumbent President Museveni of the NRM leading with 14,232 votes (61.7%).
Opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) of the NUP follows with 7,753 votes (33.64%).
Other candidates trail far behind with: Mugisha Muntu (ANT) – 164 votes (0.71%), Nathan Nandala Mafabi (FDC) – 560 votes (2.43%), Joseph Elton Mabirizi (CP) – 45 votes (0.02%), Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga (CMP) – 145 votes (0.63%), Robert Kasibante (NPP) – 66 votes (0.29%), and Frank Bulira Kabinga (RPP) – 84 votes (0.36%).
Justice Simon Byabakama, chair of the Electoral Commission (EC), said these results are based on 133 polling stations, representing 0.26% of the total, with 23,049 valid votes and 796 invalid votes (3.34%) recorded so far.
A total of 37 spoilt ballots brings the votes counted to 23,845 (0.11% of registered voters).
Byabakama confirmed that the next update will be released at 9am Friday, as more results are transmitted to the national tally centre in Lubowa, Wakiso District, and counting continues nationwide.
Earlier, Byabakama acknowledged that polling day had been largely peaceful, but the election was marred by technical glitches, including widespread failures of biometric voter verification machines, which forced a nationwide shift to manual voting.
The process was conducted amid heavy security deployments across Uganda and amid an internet blackout and delays in some polling stations, particularly in opposition strongholds in the cenral region.
“The failure of the biometric machines did not undermine the constitutional right of Ugandans to vote freely,” Byabakama said, emphasizing that the EC’s adjustments ensured that voters could cast their ballots despite the challenges.
Final results are expected by 5pm Saturday, in accordance with the Ugandan law.
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