Uganda 2026 election: Main contenders

Uganda's Electoral Commission has cleared 27 political parties to operate and participate in the January 15 presidential and parliamentary elections.

Eight presidential candidates, including incumbent Yoweri Museveni and opposition aspirant Bobi Wine, are vying for the presidency in Uganda.

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, who has been in power since 1986, is running for a seventh term under the ruling National Resistance Movement.

The Electoral Commission has registered approximately 21.6 million voters for the 2026 election, up from 18.1 million in the 2021 presidential vote.

Women constitute approximately 53% of registered voters.

Despite an uptick in Uganda's voter registration, turnout on election day has generally declined over the past years — from around 70% in 2006 to below 60% in 2021.

Uganda's electoral system explained

A candidate for president must win 50% + 1 vote to avoid a runoff in the country's two-round voting system.

Uganda has 353 constituencies, each represented by a member of parliament elected from that constituency. However, Uganda's parliament has additional seats for elected women representatives, youth representatives, representatives for persons with disabilities, workers' representatives, representatives for older persons and the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces representatives, plus ex-officio members.

The ex-officio members include the vice president and Cabinet ministers, if they are not elected as MPs. However, ex-officio members have no right to vote on issues that require a parliamentary vote.

Uganda's parliament in 2025 had 556 members, the largest in Africa relative to its population, and bigger than many national legislatures in the region, including those of Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.

Key concerns for voters

Electoral credibility and trust

Voters are concerned about whether the election will be free and fair, citing doubts about the Electoral Commission's independence, transparency in vote counting and the overall integrity of the process.

Political repression and security

Fears of violence, arrests and intimidation — especially targeting opposition figures and supporters— have raised concerns about safety, civil liberties and equal space for political competition. Kizza Besigye, a key opposition figure, has been on trial since he was detained in November 2024, after he was abducted in Nairobi, Kenya, and taken back to Uganda. 

Youth unemployment and economic hardship

High unemployment, rising living costs, and limited economic opportunities — particularly for young people — remain central issues shaping voter expectations and frustrations.

Money politics and an unequal playing field

Vote buying, cash handouts and weak enforcement of campaign finance rules could distort voter choice and favor well-resourced candidates.

Edited by: Keith Walker