Uganda Supreme Court Upholds Museveni Victory

The Supreme Court of Uganda has unanimously upheld the election of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as the duly elected President, formally closing the final legal chapter of the January 15 general election.

Delivering the ruling, Chief Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija said the Court reached a unanimous decision on the substantive matter following the withdrawal of Presidential Election Petition Number One of 2026 by former candidate Robert Kasibante. Only Justice Christopher Madrama Izama dissented, and solely on the issue of costs.

With the petition withdrawn, the Court affirmed that “the candidate earlier declared winner by the Electoral Commission of Uganda remains the validly elected President”.

President Museveni had been declared winner with 71 percent of the vote. The results were rejected by several opposition figures, including Nandala Mafabi and Robert Kyagulanyi, famously known as Bobi Wine, who cited alleged irregularities, intimidation and vote rigging.

Kasibante filed his petition on January 18, triggering the constitutional 45-day timeline for the Supreme Court to determine presidential election disputes.

However, on February 6, Kasibante withdrew the petition, citing lack of cooperation from fellow opposition candidates and prohibitive legal costs.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court emphasized that while petitioners have a right to withdraw cases, presidential election petitions are weighty constitutional matters that should not be filed lightly. Although the law ordinarily places costs on a withdrawing petitioner, the majority ruled that each party would bear its own costs in the interest of access to justice and national healing.

The judgment effectively cements Museveni’s mandate and clears the legal terrain ahead of the swearing-in of the 12th Parliament.

Museveni has served as the President of Uganda since January 26, 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.