Uganda Announces Two-Day Holiday to Facilitate Voter Participation in Upcoming Elections

Uganda will observe public holidays on January 15 and 16, 2026, enabling citizens to participate in presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for next week, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has announced.

The directive was issued through a Legal Notice under the Public Holidays Act, Cap. 174, and has been formally published in the government gazette.

The notice states that the President exercised powers granted under Section 2(2) of the Public Holidays Act to designate both dates as public holidays throughout the nation, specifically to facilitate electoral participation.

Nationwide Break for Electoral Process

According to government officials, the two-day period will allow voters nationwide to travel to polling stations, wait in queues, and exercise their franchise without workplace obligations creating barriers.

The declaration applies uniformly to public sector institutions and private organizations as the East African nation prepares for polls that have attracted significant attention.

President Museveni, who assumed office in 1986, is campaigning for re-election. The electoral exercise will simultaneously determine parliamentary composition.

Three Concurrent Electoral Contests

The electoral commission has registered 21.6 million voters who will cast ballots in three distinct races on the same day. These include the presidential contest, elections for 353 constituency parliamentary seats, and selection of 146 district women representatives.

The presidential race features President Museveni and opposition figure Bobi Wine as principal candidates, representing their second electoral confrontation. The 81-year-old incumbent secured victory in the 2021 contest with 58 percent against Wine’s 35 percent, though that election faced accusations of irregularities and witnessed significant opposition suppression.

Under Ugandan electoral law, presidential candidates must secure more than 50 percent of valid votes to win outright, otherwise triggering a runoff between the top two contenders. Questions regarding electoral integrity remain prevalent among sections of the Ugandan population.

Regional Electoral Context

The Ugandan polls follow Tanzania’s October election by approximately four months. That contest witnessed post-election disturbances in certain areas.

Electoral commission results announced on November 1 showed President Samia Suluhu winning with 31.9 million votes, equivalent to 97.66 percent of ballots cast.

International observers and opposition groups criticized the Tanzanian electoral process. Primary challenger Tundu Lissu remained detained during the campaign period and voting day, while another prominent opposition candidate faced disqualification from the race.