By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Uganda, January 18 2026 - Uganda’s President-elect Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has framed his emphatic re-election as evidence of a renewed mandate for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), pledging to focus his next term on poverty reduction, public services and regional integration.
Speaking on Sunday from his country home in Rwakitura, Kiruhura District, Museveni said the election outcome signalled a resurgence of grassroots support for the NRM and a return to party cohesion nationwide. He thanked security agencies, religious and cultural leaders, and ordinary citizens for keeping the country calm during the polls.
At the same time, the 81-year-old leader expressed concern over pockets of violence reported during voting, blaming individuals he linked to opposition groups, particularly the National Unity Platform (NUP). He said security forces were compelled to act in areas where polling stations were threatened.
“Some of our opposition [members] are wrong but not terrorists. Some of them are wrong and terrorists. In Butambala, a character was defeated. Then their plan was that where NUP is defeated, gangs with pangas should attack the polling station. And that's what they did. When they lost, they tried to attack the polling station, and seven of them were shot dead,” Museveni said.
The president-elect also questioned the relatively low turnout among registered NRM supporters, despite what he described as an expanded party register, and called for investigations to establish why millions failed to vote. He urged religious leaders to engage opposition figures to help cool political tensions.
Looking ahead, Museveni outlined an ambitious policy programme for his new term, which will run from 2026 to 2031. Central to his agenda is tackling poverty among households still living below subsistence levels, through expanded financial support and wealth-creation initiatives.
He also promised to strengthen free universal education, improve healthcare delivery, intensify the fight against corruption and push ahead with major infrastructure projects, including road construction and improved water supply. Reforms in the justice system and deeper integration into East African Community (EAC) trade arrangements also feature prominently.
On regional cooperation, Museveni said Uganda would continue to prioritise closer economic ties within the EAC, pointing to trade, shared infrastructure and labour mobility as key drivers of growth.
Museveni’s victory has drawn reactions from across the region. Kenyan President William Ruto formally congratulated him following the declaration of results, praising both the outcome and the conduct of the polls.
“Following the formal pronouncement of your re-election as the President of the Republic of Uganda last evening, 17 January, 2026, I convey, on behalf of the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya and my own behalf, my warm congratulations and best wishes to Your Excellency and to the great people of Uganda,” Ruto said.
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“Your decisive victory at the just-concluded competitive General Election reflects the trust that the people of the Republic of Uganda have in your personal leadership and the confidence enjoyed by the NRM party. I am certain your re-election reinvigorates Your Excellency's resolve to accelerate the transformation of your country.”
Ruto also commended Ugandans for what he described as a peaceful election, saying it demonstrated the country’s democratic maturity and reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strong bilateral relations.
Museveni was declared the winner of the 15 January 2026 presidential election after securing 7.9 million votes, equivalent to 71.6 per cent of ballots cast. His closest challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, received 2.7 million votes.
Kyagulanyi has rejected the outcome, accusing authorities of ballot stuffing, military interference and the detention of opposition figures and polling officials.
“I reiterate our complete rejection of the fake results Byabakama is reading,” Kyagulanyi said, insisting the outcome had “zero backing”.
He also condemned the alleged killing of protesters, saying Ugandans had a constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully in defence of their democratic choice.
Museveni’s re-election extends one of Africa’s longest political careers. He first took power in January 1986 after leading the National Resistance Army (NRA) to victory following a five-year guerrilla war, ending a period of prolonged instability. While Uganda’s 1995 Constitution initially introduced term and age limits for presidents, later political changes removed those restrictions, allowing Museveni to consolidate his grip on power for more than four decades.
