Kasibante had asked the court on February 5, 2026, to withdraw both the main petition and a related application seeking access to backend electoral data held by the Electoral Commission. He said he lacked the funds for a nationwide forensic audit of election materials, including biometric voter verification systems and servers, and conceded that without the evidence he sought, the petition could not meet the required standard of proof.

The respondents, President Museveni, the Electoral Commission and the Attorney General, did not oppose the withdrawal but requested that the petition be dismissed with costs, saying they had spent significant resources defending the case.

The court said presidential election petitions are matters of high constitutional importance and warned they should not be filed casually, given the logistical and financial implications. It concluded that the evidence on record was insufficient to sustain the petition and ruled, "Presidential Election Petition No. 01 of 2026 is hereby withdrawn."

Veteran President Yoweri Museveni was declared the landslide winner of Uganda's presidential election in January, extending his rule into a fifth decade after a contest marred by violent incidents and allegations of fraud.

Uganda's electoral commission said Museveni had received just under 72% of the vote. His main challenger, the pop singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, was credited with 24%.

A government source said the decision was taken with immediate effect and warned that the two should not return to Uganda. “Smith and Amsterdam have proven themselves to be enemies of Uganda through destructive activism,” one senior official told local media.

Allegations of political interference

Authorities accuse the pair of moving beyond advocacy into direct political action against the Ugandan state. Officials claim they have promoted narratives aimed at delegitimising government institutions and inciting unrest, including by amplifying messages from groups considered subversive under Ugandan law.

The government also alleges the two have distributed what it calls defamatory and negative content about Uganda through foreign media and international platforms. “These are coordinated media offensives meant to tarnish Uganda’s image globally,” A source told Chimpreports news.

Ugandan security officials further accuse Smith and Amsterdam of lobbying foreign governments and international financial institutions to block development funding to Uganda. Authorities say such efforts amount to economic sabotage designed to weaken investor confidence and harm the country’s growth prospects.  

Sanctions and ICC lobbying  

The government also claims the two foreigners have supported calls for sanctions against Ugandan officials and pushed for international investigations, including potential referrals to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“Seeking sanctions and international prosecutions against serving Ugandan officials is not neutral legal work,” an official is quoted.

The accusations follow a dossier circulated internationally by Amsterdam’s law firm, which called for punitive action against Uganda over alleged post-election repression.

Wine, a pop-star-turned-politician, rejected the outcome, alleging fraud and accusing security forces of harassment and intimidation.

Muhoozi’s accusations

In a series of posts on X, Gen. Muhoozi claimed Ugandan troops were actively hunting Wine “dead or alive,” and alleged that Wine’s escape from his home in Magere during a night raid was coordinated with the “current administration at the US Embassy.”

“We, as UPDF, suspend ALL cooperation with the current administration at the US Embassy in Kampala,” Muhoozi wrote, adding that this could include Uganda’s military cooperation with the United States in Somalia.

Muhoozi later deleted some of the posts and apologised, but the remarks raised concerns about the future of Uganda - US security ties.

Contradictions within government

Muhoozi’s comments came just hours after Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja told local broadcaster NTV Uganda that Wine was not being pursued by the state. “Everyone is wondering why he chose to leave. He is not wanted by the government,” she said.

Other government officials have made similar statements, creating confusion over whether Wine is formally under arrest or being targeted by security forces.

Raid on Wine’s family home

Wine has said troops broke into his residence overnight, assaulted staff and choked his wife, Barbara Kyagulanyi, forcing her to seek medical attention.

Muhoozi posted a photo claiming soldiers had “captured and then released” Wine’s wife during the raid, describing her as “helpful” in locating her husband.

“I managed to escape from them,” Wine said, adding that he is currently not at home. His wife and other family members, however, remain under what he described as house arrest.

Wine said the heavy security presence and the overnight operation led neighbours to believe he and his family had been abducted, rumours he said were worsened by a nationwide internet shutdown that has limited access to information.

The opposition leader accused authorities of hunting for him and said he was taking steps to stay safe. He also repeated his rejection of the election results being announced by the electoral commission, describing them as fraudulent and lacking any credibility.

Wine alleged widespread ballot stuffing, military interference in the vote, the arrest of opposition leaders and polling officials, and other electoral abuses. He also condemned the killing of citizens who, he said, were peacefully protesting against what he called the theft of the election.

“The people of Uganda have the right to protest in defence of their sovereign right to determine a government of their choice,” Wine said, accusing the authorities of using violence and intimidation to suppress dissent.

Ugandan security forces have not publicly responded to Wine’s latest claims.

What they said

Police spokesperson Lydia Tumushabe said security forces fired in self-defence after opposition “goons” attacked a police station and tally centre, adding that 25 people were arrested. MP Muwanga Kivumbi rejected that version of events, saying, “They killed 10 people inside my house…They broke the front door and began shooting inside the garage. It was a massacre.” President Museveni, after voting, said he expected to win with around 80% of the vote “if there’s no cheating”. Bobi Wine accused authorities of orchestrating fraud and repression, saying the internet shutdown was designed to silence dissent and block scrutiny of the vote. He further posted on X that, “yesterday, after casting my ballot, the military deployed all around my home in order to place me under house arrest. These criminals even jumped over the fence and entered our compound. My house is still besieged - no one allowed to come in or go out. This ain't strength. They do this out of fear for the people they have offended by committing so many atrocities against them. They do this because they are afraid of the people's reaction after stealing their vote.”

“All those in Uganda, who are able to bypass the criminal regime’s internet blockade – big up yourselves!” he wrote. “Pass around the message. Let everyone know how to do it. They cut off the internet in order to hide rigging and atrocities. Record everything and share with the world .”

The call came less than 24 hours after the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) ordered mobile network operators and internet service providers to suspend public internet access and selected mobile services starting at 6:00 pm on January 13, 2026. The suspension is expected to remain in force until further notice.

The UCC said the move was aimed at maintaining public order during the election period.

Just days earlier, government officials had dismissed claims by the opposition that an internet shutdown was planned.

A total of seven candidates were nominated during the two-day exercise held on 23 rd and 24 th September 2025 at the Electoral Commission grounds in Lweza-Lubowa, Wakiso District. The process was overseen by Electoral Commission chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, who also serves as the returning officer for presidential nominations.

Among those nominated is President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, standing on the ticket of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM). Now in power for nearly four decades, Museveni first took office in 1986 after leading a guerrilla war that promised to restore democracy following years of instability.

Once hailed as part of a new generation of African leaders, his long rule has increasingly been criticised over alleged human rights abuses, restrictions on political space and the harassment of opposition figures. He won the 2021 election with 58% of the vote, a poll marred by allegations of rigging and a heavy security crackdown.

The opposition field is led by Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, the candidate of the National Unity Platform (NUP). A former pop star turned politician, Bobi Wine, is widely viewed as Museveni’s strongest challenger. He came second in the last election with 35% of the vote and helped turn NUP into the largest opposition party in Parliament. Dubbed the “ghetto president,” he commands strong support among young, urban and working-class voters but has continued to face arrests, surveillance and restrictions on his activities.

Other candidates include James Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Gregory Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Kasibante Robert (NPP), Joseph Mabirizi (CP), Munyagwa Mubarak Sserunga (CMP) and Frank Kabinga Bulira (RPP).

The official campaign period is set to begin on 29 th September 2025, after the harmonisation of candidates’ campaign schedules.

The key issues

While Uganda’s per-capita income has slowly recovered since the pandemic, job creation has lagged behind rapid population growth, leaving millions of young people unemployed or underemployed. Rising public debt estimated at over 50% of GDP and growing debt-servicing costs have raised concerns about fiscal sustainability, alongside persistently high food and fuel prices.

Corruption is another central voter concern. Uganda ranks 140th out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. High-profile scandals involving members of Parliament and senior officials have contributed to public frustration. 

Afrobarometer surveys show corruption has risen sharply on the list of issues citizens want addressed, yet many Ugandans say they fear retaliation if they report wrongdoing. In February 2025, an Afrobarometer report noted that Corruption ranked as the fifth-most important issue that citizens want their government to address, up from 12th place in 2005. 

Uganda’s Electoral Commission says the outcome of the presidential vote should be known by 4:00 pm local time (1:00 pm GMT) on Saturday, 17 January

Uganda’s political opposition is undergoing a notable transformation , with analysts questioning whether the current leadership prioritises political ideals or personal business interests. This debate has grown louder as several opposition figures have been accused of focusing on commercial ventures rather than grassroots mobilisation. Critics argue that the opposition’s evolving character risks weakening checks on President Yoweri Museveni’s long-standing administration, while others contend it reflects a strategic adaptation to a changing economic and political reality.

Uganda’s new political darling is born in Luzzi’s unfiltered truth

As Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, continues to draw both fervent support and criticism, a new political voice is emerging in Luzzi’s candid and unapologetic commentary. Luzzi’s rise — framed as a rejection of “performance politics” — has resonated with a younger audience disillusioned by both government and traditional opposition figures. Political observers describe this as a potential generational shift, marking the birth of a new populist style grounded in plain-spoken authenticity rather than celebrity charisma.

The Observer vindicated as Katuntu backs Museveni

In a turn that has stirred Uganda’s political debate , seasoned politician Abdu Katuntu has publicly expressed support for President Museveni, a move that many see as validating earlier reports by The Observer newspaper. The publication had previously suggested Katuntu’s growing alignment with the ruling party, a claim dismissed at the time by some opposition circles. His endorsement now appears to confirm the steady consolidation of the ruling National Resistance Movement’s influence, even among former critics.

Police warn NUP supporters over escalating attacks on officers amid campaign tensions

Ugandan police have issued a strong warning to members of the National Unity Platform (NUP) following reports of assaults on law enforcement personnel during campaign activities. Authorities say several officers were injured in clashes linked to rallies in central districts. The police statement emphasised that such acts will be met with firm legal action, while NUP officials have accused security forces of provocation and heavy-handedness. The incident highlights the mounting tension as Uganda inches closer to the next electoral cycle.