Uganda’s Electoral Commission has released a second batch of provisional presidential election results, offering a clearer picture of the national vote as counting continues across the country. The update, announced by the Commission’s Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, confirms that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni remains firmly in the lead as nearly half of all polling stations have now submitted their tallies.
Speaking to the press, Justice Byabakama said that as of Thursday morning, results had been received from 22,758 polling stations, accounting for 44.85 percent of the country’s total 50,739 polling stations. He emphasized that the figures reflect votes already counted and verified, stressing that the process is ongoing and that additional updates will be issued as more results are compiled.
Uganda has a total of 21,649,067 registered voters, and the current figures provide an early but significant snapshot of voter preferences in what has been a closely watched election.
Museveni Maintains a Strong Lead
According to the provisional results released so far, incumbent President Museveni Tibuhaburwa Yoweri has secured 3,960,438 votes, translating to 76.25 percent of the valid votes counted. The figures reinforce the commanding lead he established in the first batch of results and suggest consistent support across many parts of the country.
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, is seeking to extend his long tenure, arguing that his leadership has delivered relative stability, economic growth, and infrastructure development. His campaign focused heavily on security, industrialization, and protecting what he describes as Uganda’s development gains.
While the results are still partial, the margin reflected in the provisional tally indicates a significant advantage over his closest challenger.
Kyagulanyi Trails as Opposition Watches Closely
National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Kyagulanyi Robert, popularly known as Bobi Wine, is currently in second place with 1,312,047 votes, representing 19.85 percent of the valid votes counted so far.
Kyagulanyi, a former pop star turned politician, has drawn strong support from younger voters and urban populations. His campaign centered on democratic reform, accountability, and economic opportunities for Uganda’s large youth population. Despite trailing in the provisional results, his supporters continue to follow the tallying process closely, with opposition leaders repeatedly urging transparency and vigilance as counting proceeds.
Political observers note that while Kyagulanyi’s numbers reflect substantial backing, particularly in urban areas, the gap between him and the incumbent remains wide at this stage of the count.
Performance of Other Candidates
The Electoral Commission’s update also detailed the performance of other presidential candidates, all of whom currently hold smaller shares of the vote.RELATED POST
Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) candidate Nandala Mafabi James has received 108,301 votes, accounting for 2.08 percent. Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) leader Mungisha Gregory Muntu Oyera has garnered 29,504 votes, or 0.57 percent.
Other candidates trail with less than one percent each. Bulira Frank has secured 23,267 votes, Kasibante Robert has 15,929 votes, while Mabirizi Joseph has received 10,910 votes. Another unnamed candidate stands at 14,742 votes. Combined, these figures highlight the dominance of the two leading contenders in shaping the overall outcome of the election.
Voter Turnout and Ballot Statistics
Justice Byabakama also provided figures on overall participation so far. The total number of valid votes counted stands at 5,194,338, while 17,281 ballots have been classified as spoiled. In total, 5,850,779 votes have been cast to date, representing 24.59 percent of all registered voters.
The relatively low percentage reflects the fact that results from more than half of the polling stations are still outstanding. The Commission expects turnout figures to evolve as additional data is received and consolidated.
Electoral officials reiterated that all results undergo a verification process before being added to the national tally, a step they say is essential to preserving the integrity of the election.
Emphasis on Provisional Nature of Results
The Electoral Commission was keen to stress that the figures released are provisional and subject to change as counting continues. Justice Byabakama urged the public, political parties, and candidates to exercise patience and restraint, reminding them that the Commission is constitutionally mandated to manage the process independently and transparently.
“These are not final results,” he emphasized, noting that the Commission will continue to release updates at regular intervals. The next official update is scheduled for 2 p.m., as more polling stations submit their returns.
Such staggered announcements are standard practice in Uganda’s elections, particularly given the logistical challenges of collecting results from remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Political Climate and Public Expectations
The release of the second batch of results comes amid heightened political tension in parts of the country, with reports of isolated protests and a heavy security presence in some urban centers. Authorities have repeatedly called for calm, while opposition leaders have demanded openness and fairness throughout the remainder of the process.
Analysts say the way the Electoral Commission communicates results and addresses concerns will be critical in shaping public confidence. Clear, timely updates are seen as essential to preventing misinformation and reducing the risk of unrest.
At the same time, supporters of the leading candidates are closely monitoring regional trends, turnout patterns, and the pace at which results are being announced, searching for clues about the final outcome.
What Happens Next
As vote counting continues, the focus will remain on the remaining 55 percent of polling stations yet to report. Once all results are received, verified, and tallied, the Electoral Commission will announce the final presidential election results in accordance with the law.
Until then, the Commission has pledged to maintain transparency and provide regular briefings. For now, President Museveni’s strong lead in the provisional results places him in a favorable position, while Kyagulanyi and other candidates await further updates that could either confirm or narrow the gap.
The coming hours and days are expected to be decisive, not only for determining Uganda’s next president but also for testing the resilience and credibility of the country’s electoral process.
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