Museveni Orders Election Holiday
Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has announced that January 15 and 16, 2026, will be public holidays. This decision is aimed at giving citizens the opportunity to participate in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, which are set to take place next week following a heated campaign period.
Museveni made this announcement through a Legal Notice issued under the Public Holidays Act, Cap. 174, which has been officially published by the government in preparation for the elections.
“In exercise of the powers conferred upon the President by Section 2 (2) of the Public Holidays Act, I declare 15th and 16th January, 2026, to be observed as public holidays throughout Uganda for the purpose of enabling citizens to participate in the Presidential and Parliamentary elections,” the notice read in part.
The government announced that the two-day break is designed to give voters nationwide the chance to travel, wait in line, and cast their votes without any interruptions from work.
As Uganda gears up for what promises to be a closely watched election, the holidays will be observed across the nation, affecting both public and private institutions.
President Museveni, who has held power since 1986, is vying for another term, and these elections will also shape the future of Parliament.
With 21.6 million registered voters, Ugandans will take part in three distinct elections: the presidential race, the election of 353 constituency Members of Parliament, and the selection of 146 women representatives, one from each district.
In the presidential contest, President Museveni and opposition leader Bobi Wine are the key players, facing off for the second time at the polls.
At 81 years old, Museveni won the 2021 election with 58 percent of the vote, while Bobi Wine secured 35 percent. However, that election was marred by allegations of rigging and a significant crackdown on opposition voices.
Under Ugandan law, a presidential candidate must secure more than 50 percent of the votes to avoid a runoff in the two-round voting system, even as many citizens express concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
The Ugandan elections are taking place almost four months after Tanzania’s own fiercely contested poll, which was marred by post-election clashes in various regions.
President Samia Suluhu was announced as the winner when the Tanzanian Electoral Commission released results on Saturday, November 1, revealing she had secured 31.9 million votes, which is a staggering 97.66 percent of the total votes cast.
However, the election faced backlash from the international community and opposition groups. Notably, the main challenger, Tundu Lissu, spent the lead-up to the election and the voting period behind bars, while another prominent opposition figure was barred from participating in the race.
Museveni Orders Election Holiday
