Uganda’s Electoral Commission has released updated preliminary results from the ongoing presidential vote count, offering an early picture of how the race is shaping up as tallying continues nationwide. The figures show that voting data from millions of registered voters is still being processed, with officials stressing that the outcome remains provisional until all polling stations are accounted for.
According to the Electoral Commission, Uganda has a total of 21,649,067 registered voters. So far, 5,323,779 votes have been counted and verified as the tallying exercise continues across the country.
Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon said the early results place President Yoweri Museveni in the lead with 3,960,438 votes. This represents 76.25% of the votes counted so far. His closest challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi, widely known as Bobi Wine, has secured 1,312,047 votes, translating to 19.85%.
The commission said the figures reflect early voting trends and should not be treated as final. Vote counting is still ongoing, with results from various parts of the country, including distant polling areas, yet to be fully added to the national tally.
While the preliminary numbers show President Museveni with a wide lead, the commission urged patience among the public and political actors, warning against drawing early conclusions before the final announcement is made.
Addressing the nation, the Electoral Commission chairperson assured Ugandans that the process is moving within the legal timeframe set by the constitution.
“We are on course to announce the winner of the presidential election within 48 hours. Before 5 PM tomorrow, we shall have the final results,” Electoral Commission chairperson Simon Mugenyi Byabakama said.
He emphasized that the commission is committed to ensuring that every valid vote is counted and included in the final declaration, noting that transparency remains a priority throughout the process.
The timeline for announcing results is guided by Uganda’s 1995 constitution. Article 103(7) states that the Electoral Commission must determine, publish, and declare the presidential election results in writing under its seal within 48 hours of polling.
Clause (6) of the same article further provides that the candidate who receives the highest number of votes shall be declared president once the results are finalized and officially announced.
The Electoral Commission has reiterated its call for calm as the counting continues, promising regular updates until the final results are released. More results are expected as tallying progresses.
