Uganda 2026 elections: Bobi Wine challenges President Yoweri Museveni for the second time

As Ugandans head to the polls next week, they are faced with the choice of propelling a leader into his fifth decade in power or backing a candidate who seeks to capitalize on the desire for change from some quarters.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, in office since 1986, is aiming for a seventh consecutive election victory.

His main challenger, 43-year-old pop star and politician Bobi Wine, has promised a revolution in governance and sweeping reforms.

The campaign was characterized by the disruption of opposition activities, including the detention of activists and the breaking up of demonstrations by police.

With high youth unemployment in a country where the majority of the population is under 30, the economy has become a key focus of the campaign.

The polls are scheduled for Thursday, January 15. Polling stations open at 7am local time (04am GMT) and close at 4pm. Anyone who is in line at that time can vote.

The 21.6 million registered voters will participate in three elections:

• Presidential – there are eight candidates to choose from
• Parliamentary (1) – 353 constituency MPs will be elected
• Parliamentary (2) – 146 female representatives – one per local district – will be elected

Museveni and Bobi Wine are the two frontrunners on the all-male list of eight hopefuls.

This is the second time they have faced each other at the ballot box, with the president winning the 2021 elections, marred by allegations of rigging and a crackdown on the opposition, with 58% of the vote compared to Bobi Wine’s 35%.

Yoweri Museveni – National Resistance Movement (NRM)

Museveni first took power by force 40 years ago as leader of a guerrilla army that promised to restore democracy after years of civil war and the dictatorship of Idi Amin.

Once celebrated as part of a new generation of African leaders poised to usher in a new democratic era, mounting allegations of human rights abuses and intimidation of opposition figures have soured that perception.

Critics say he has ruled with an iron fist since taking power. Now that he has reneged on his promise to resign, he is the only president most Ugandans have known.

Currently, Africa’s third-longest-serving leader, Museveni has benefited from two constitutional amendments – removing age and term limits – that have allowed him to continue running for office.

He argues that he remains the only guarantee for the country’s stability and progress.

Bobi Wine – Platform for National Unity (NUP)

Former hitmaker Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, is widely considered the strongest of the seven opposition candidates.

Once dubbed the ‘ghetto president’, he is seen as the embodiment of youthful aspirations for change, and enjoys strong support among young urban working-class voters.

Bobi Wine presented himself as a serious contender five years ago. He came second and helped restrict Museveni to the lowest share of the vote in any election he has contested. Bobi Wine’s NUP party became the largest opposition force in parliament.

Since that vote, Bobi Wine continues to face harassment from security forces.

The other candidates do Frank Bulira, Robert Kasibante, Joseph Mabirizi, Nandala Mafabi, Husband And Mubarak Munyagwa.

Prominent opposition figure Kizza Besigyewho has stood against Museveni four times, cannot run and remains in prison on charges of treason. arrested in neighboring Kenya in 2024. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Economic issues, especially unemployment, weigh on the minds of many as they prepare to vote.

Average income per person has risen slowly but steadily since the pandemic, but there don’t seem to be enough jobs to match the large number of young people looking for work.

There are also concerns about poor infrastructure and inequality in access to quality education and healthcare.

However, the country has managed to avoid the spike in the cost of living that has affected so many other countries in the region and put pressure on those in power.

Corruption is another major problem.

Uganda ranks 140th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index, with widespread bribery and nepotism within government institutions.

The conduct of the elections in Uganda has often been criticized. This time, officials say the vote will be free and fair, but UN experts have warned this may not be the case, citing what they describe as a “pervasive climate of fear” in Uganda.

During the campaign period, opposition supporters have faced escalating harassment, including arrests on politically motivated charges, rights groups say.

Bobi Wine’s rallies, unlike Museveni’s, have been disrupted by security forces.

Amnesty International described the use of tear gas, pepper spray, beatings and other violent acts as “a brutal campaign of repression” ahead of the elections.

The government says the measures are necessary to ensure peaceful elections and prevent anyone from inciting riots on election day.

When it comes to the elections themselves, Bobi Wine has urged voters to remain at polling stations and secure their ballots to help prevent vote fraud.

But election officials have said people should vote peacefully and then leave, ensuring that vote counting will be transparent and adhered to by party agents, the media and election observers. However, critics have questioned the independence of the electoral commission.

Despite government denials, based on past experience, there are also fears of an internet shutdown during the elections, with the aim of preventing people from verifying the results. The NUP says it has a vote monitoring app that can solve this problem using Bluetooth technology.

Vote counting should begin at each polling station as soon as voting closes, with results ultimately sent to a central polling station.

A candidate must receive more than 50% of the votes cast nationwide to win the presidency in the first round, otherwise a runoff between the top two candidates will take place within 30 days.

Museveni has always won more than 50% in the first round of voting.