Uganda declares public holidays ahead of 2026 election

President Yoweri Museveni has declared January 15 and 16 public holidays nationwide to allow Ugandans time to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for Thursday, January 15. Polling will take place on Thursday, with voting stations opening at 07:00 local time and closing at 16:00. An estimated 21.6 million registered voters are expected to take part in the elections. President Museveni, 81, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, has been actively campaigning across the country as the party intensifies mobilisation ahead of the vote. NRM leaders have extended campaigns into opposition-leaning areas, holding rallies in places such as Entebbe and Rubaga in Kampala, as they seek support for Museveni’s bid for another term. In office since 1986, Museveni is aiming for a seventh successive election victory. The incumbent has focused his campaign on continuity and stability, citing decades of peace and development under NRM leadership. Museveni and his party have emphasised infrastructure expansion, economic growth, and the preservation of security. Recent polling reported by the Ugandan English-language daily New Vision showed Museveni leading, with particularly strong support among women and rural voters. His main challenger, National Unity Platform (NUP) flag bearer Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, 43, has been touring various regions to mobilise voters. His campaign stops have included Namutumba and Bugweri—neighbouring districts in the Busoga sub-region of eastern Uganda—as part of efforts to build grassroots support. The pop-star-turned-politician, who was the runner-up in the 2021 election, has promised a revolution in governance and sweeping reforms. He has outlined priorities and commitments to voters while campaigning ahead of election day. Bobi Wine has urged peaceful participation in the electoral process, stressing non-violence and discipline among his supporters. He has set an ambitious outreach target of reaching 20 million voters during the campaign, calling for fresh leadership and renewed hope for change. Museveni and Bobi Wine are the two front-runners among eight presidential contenders, marking the second time the pair will face each other at the ballot box. Five years ago, Museveni won the election with 58% of the vote, compared to Bobi Wine’s 35%. Other candidates in the presidential race are National Peasants Party (NPP) candidate Robert Kasibante; Conservative Party (CP) flag bearer Joseph Elton Mabirizi; Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Nandala Mafabi; former army commander and Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) leader Mugisha Muntu; Common Man’s Party (CMP) candidate Mubarak Munyagwa; and Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP) leader Frank Bulira. Veteran opposition figure Col (Rtd) Kizza Besigye, who has previously contested against Museveni four times, is unable to participate in the election and remains in jail on alleged treason charges following his arrest in Kenya in late 2024. On Sunday, the veteran opposition figure’s wife, Eng. Winnie Byanyima, announced that Besigye sent a monetary contribution to Bobi Wine’s presidential campaign.

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Uganda declares public holidays ahead of 2026 election