Voters queue to cast their ballots at a polling station in Kampala, Uganda, on Jan. 15, 2026. Presidential and parliamentary elections kicked off in Uganda as people queued to cast ballots on Thursday. More than 21 million Ugandans are expected to vote to elect the president, 353 directly elected members of parliament and 146 district women representatives on the day. Eight candidates are vying for the presidency, including incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who is seeking a seventh five-year term in office. His main rival is Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, a pop-star-turned politician. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
KAMPALA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Presidential and parliamentary elections kicked off in Uganda as people queued to cast ballots on Thursday.
More than 21 million Ugandans are expected to vote to elect the president, 353 directly elected members of parliament and 146 district women representatives on the day.
According to the Electoral Commission, the country's electoral body, the voting will start at 7:00 a.m. local time (0400 GMT) and close at 4:00 p.m. local time (1300 GMT).
By 9:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT), voting had yet to begin in several parts of the capital Kampala and the border city of Jinja. There were reports that ballot papers had not been delivered and that the biometric machines used to check voters' identities were not working.
The elections are also taking place when the country is under an internet blackout, prompted by security concerns.
On Tuesday, the Uganda Communications Commission shut down the internet to "protect national security, public safety and public order."
Eight candidates are vying for the presidency, including incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who is seeking a seventh five-year term in office. His main rival is Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, a pop-star-turned politician.
According to the Electoral Commission, a candidate must garner more than 50 percent of the votes to win the presidency.
The Parliament of Uganda has a total of 529 seats. Apart from the 353 directly elected members and 146 district women representatives, the remaining 30 seats are filled indirectly via special electoral colleges on different dates for the following special interest groups: 10 by the army, 5 by youths, 5 by elders, 5 by unions, and 5 by people with disabilities. ■
Election officials check the seal of a ballot box at a polling station in Kampala, Uganda, on Jan. 15, 2026. Presidential and parliamentary elections kicked off in Uganda as people queued to cast ballots on Thursday.
More than 21 million Ugandans are expected to vote to elect the president, 353 directly elected members of parliament and 146 district women representatives on the day.
Eight candidates are vying for the presidency, including incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who is seeking a seventh five-year term in office. His main rival is Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, a pop-star-turned politician. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
Polling agents witness the unsealing of a ballot box at a polling station in Kampala, Uganda, on Jan. 15, 2026. Presidential and parliamentary elections kicked off in Uganda as people queued to cast ballots on Thursday.
More than 21 million Ugandans are expected to vote to elect the president, 353 directly elected members of parliament and 146 district women representatives on the day.
Eight candidates are vying for the presidency, including incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who is seeking a seventh five-year term in office. His main rival is Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, a pop-star-turned politician. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
Voters queue to cast their ballots at a polling station in Kampala, Uganda, on Jan. 15, 2026. Presidential and parliamentary elections kicked off in Uganda as people queued to cast ballots on Thursday.
More than 21 million Ugandans are expected to vote to elect the president, 353 directly elected members of parliament and 146 district women representatives on the day.
Eight candidates are vying for the presidency, including incumbent President Yoweri Museveni, who is seeking a seventh five-year term in office. His main rival is Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, a pop-star-turned politician. (Photo by Hajarah Nalwadda/Xinhua)
