Uganda Elections 2026

By John Merolla

Reporter Life News Today

Uganda is going through a decisive moment in its political and social life, in a context marked by strong economic challenges and growing institutional tension. The functioning of the State is sustained by the collection of internal taxes, but it also depends significantly on international aid and external loans granted by multilateral organizations and cooperating countries. This combination allows it to maintain economic activity, although at the same time it exposes the country to a strong dependence on external financing.

The Ugandan political system is based on presidentialism with broad powers concentrated in the executive. This structure has favored the continuity of the same leadership for decades and has reduced the possibilities of political alternation. Added to this are structural problems that affect a large part of the population, such as persistent poverty, corruption, rapid population growth and limitations in access to essential public services such as health and education.

Despite these challenges, Uganda has valuable strategic resources. The country has oil reserves in the Lake Albert region, extensive fertile land suitable for agricultural production, abundant water resources associated with Lake Victoria and significant hydroelectric potential. Coffee, the main export product, remains one of the main sources of income. However, the distribution of this wealth continues to be unequal and does not fully translate into better living conditions for the majority of citizens.

In this scenario, presidential elections will be held on January 15, in which the current president Yoweri Museveni will seek to extend a term that is already approaching forty years. Museveni has ruled the country since 1986, when he came to power after leading an armed rebellion, and is now seeking a seventh consecutive term. At 81, his candidacy once again raises questions about Uganda's succession and political future.

Analysts agree that the ruling party's strong control over state institutions suggests a new victory for the president and his party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM). However, they point out that the development of the electoral process will be key to measuring the level of political openness and stability of the country in the coming years.

The main challenge for the ruling party comes from Bobi Wine, 43, a leader with great support among young people. Wine has focused his campaign on the need to recover political freedoms and has accused Museveni's government of having established an authoritarian regime for four decades. The ruling party, on the other hand, rejects these accusations and denies that there are widespread human rights violations.

The memory of the previous elections is still present. Before the 2021 elections, security forces repressed protests sparked after Wine's arrest, in events that left more than 50 people dead, according to local and international organizations. This background fuels concerns about the climate in which this year's vote will take place.

The international community is watching the process closely. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, urged the Ugandan authorities to ensure that the January 15^th elections take place peacefully, with full citizen participation and without the use of force against peaceful demonstrations. In addition, recent reports warn that some laws passed in recent years, including a 2025 law expanding the role of the armed forces, have been used to limit political criticism and reduce the space for the opposition.