The elections in Uganda has started today January 15, 2026. People are voting across the country. But anyone who has followed Uganda elections, already knows where the results are heading.
Elections in every normal circumstance should be free and fair, but the elections in Uganda is well documented to be not free. It is also a well-documented fact that incumbent Yoweri Museveni uses the coercive forces of the State such as the military and police to harass, intimidate and obstruct his opponents – often the most potent political opponents are the targets.
Kizza Besigye, who is currently in detention on trumped up charges as always has consistently been targeted by state forces, and brutalized. His supporters beaten, arrested and detained, and in some instances believed to have been murdered by armed operatives of the Museveni controlled State security forces.
That hasn’t changed, since Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known by his stage name Bobi Wine emerged on the political scene to challenge Museveni. At 43-years-old, fate seems to have thrown him to the gauntlet. The musician turned politician appears to have entered an arena with killers waiting to take him out. The political field for Uganda’s election has always been uneven.
Two days to voting, Museveni shut down the Internet. Then he makes a feeble claim that it was shut down not because of the elections, but because of heavy traffic. But everyone watching Uganda knows that is not the case.
At 43-years-old, fate seems to have thrown him to the gauntlet. The musician turned politician appears to have entered an arena with killers waiting to take him out. The political field for Uganda’s election has always been uneven.
Yoweri Museveni at 81 years, and now a spent force has been unyielding.
His frail presence and thoughtless speeches are grim realities of what he has turned Uganda into. A country struggling to reach its full potential.
Uganda has one of the world’s youngest population. The youth make up the majority of Uganda. Of the country’s about 52 million population, estimates suggest that over 72 per cent are under the age of 30. Recent census data shows over 33 million people aged 30 or younger, and approximately 14 million youth (ages 15-30) representing about 31% of the total population.
Museveni, came on the scene as a rebel fighter who lived in the bush and proclaimed to be fighting for democracy, but after more than 40 years in power, he has refused to let go. Someone of his age is in the minority in the population, but he won’t leave the scene for a younger person, instead he is staying put, while he constantly denies others the democracy he so violently fought for and won. He uses violence to deny his most formidable opponents the right and space to campaign and contest him.
Uganda isn’t a poor country. But most Ugandans like in many equally rich African countries live in poverty, lack basic essential medical care. Most government hospitals are overcrowded and under-equipped. But Museveni, who has clearly outlived his usefulness as a president, continues to tighten his grip on power. Supported by his close allies and family members, he is unyielding. His son is in charge of the army. His wife is in charge of education. Other family members and cronies in charge elsewhere.
While he claims to be allowing competition, he at the same time unleashes the military and police to constantly brutalize his opponents and their supporters.
Of all the other candidates contesting the January 15, 2026 elections in Uganda, only one stands out as formidable and a potential threat to Museveni’s insatiable greed for political power, and that is Bobi Wine. There are lots of videos flooding social media and other news reports that covered his campaign showing the unrestrained brutality meted out by Museveni operatives, some in mufti and others in police and military uniforms, often carrying guns, buttons and tear gas equipment. They attack, throw tear gas, assault, maim and kill even bystanders, with the tactic seemingly being to spread fear by intimidation.
Wine isn’t the first victim of Museveni’s jungle tactics, his predecessor, Kizza Besigye suffered similarly. He has been arrested, beaten, detained and put before court in sham trials. He is currently being held in detention and has been put before a military court in clear violation of Ugandan laws.
Bobi Wine is no stranger to Museveni’s dirty tactics. He has endured them before. But he keeps going. He believes he has what it takes to win the elections.
But as voters cast their ballots today, would the will of the people of Uganda reflect in the results?
By Emmanuel K Dogbevi
