Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni declared January 15 and 16 public holidays to allow citizens to participate in the general election scheduled for Thursday, January 15.
Voting stations will open at 7:00 local time on Thursday and close at 16:00. It is anticipated that 21.6 million registered voters will cast ballots.
The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate, President Museveni, 81, has been actively campaigning throughout the nation as the party steps up its mobilisation efforts in front of the election.
In an effort to garner support for Museveni’s candidacy for a second term, NRM leaders have expanded their campaigns into opposition-leaning communities, holding rallies in locations such as Entebbe and Rubaga in Kampala. Museveni, who has been in office since 1986, wants to win seven straight elections.
Citing decades of peace and progress under NRM rule, the incumbent has centred his campaign on continuity and stability. The development of infrastructure, economic expansion, and security maintenance have been priorities for Museveni and his party.
The Ugandan English-language daily New Vision stated that Museveni was dominating in recent surveys, with women and rural voters showing especially strong support.
Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, often known as Bobi Wine, the 43-year-old flag bearer for the National Unity Platform (NUP), is his primary opponent. He has been travelling to different areas to mobilise people. In an attempt to garner grassroots support, he has visited adjoining districts in the Busoga sub-region of eastern Uganda, Namutumba and Bugweri.
The pop singer turned politician, who finished second in the 2021 election, has pledged extensive reforms and a revolution in governance. Prior to election day, he had campaigned by outlining his goals and promises to voters.
Bobi Wine has called on his supporters to participate in the election process peacefully, emphasising discipline and nonviolence. Throughout the campaign, he has set an ambitious outreach goal of engaging 20 million people, urging new leadership and rekindled hope for change.
Among the eight presidential candidates, Museveni and Bobi Wine are the front-runners. This would be their second encounter at the polls. Bobi Wine received 35% of the vote five years ago, while Museveni received 58%.
Other contenders for the presidency include Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party (NPP), Joseph Elton Mabirizi of the Conservative Party (CP), Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Mugisha Muntu, a former army commander and leader of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Mubarak Munyagwa of the Common Man’s Party (CMP), and Frank Bulira of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP).