𝗘𝗨 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗨𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Uganda went to the general elections on the 15 January 2026 through which the electorates were to choose who would lead them for the next five year [2026 - 2031] and Equally elect their members of Parliaments to the 12th Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Eight Presidential Candidates were cleared to contest for the 2026 General Elections Namely:- President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni of the National Resistance Movement [NRM Party] Who was seeking a 7th elective term after shooting his way to power on the 26th January 1986, Major Gen Mugisha Gregory Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation [ANT],Mr. Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party[NPP], Mr. Nandala Mafabi James Nathan of the Forum for Democratic Change[FDC], Mr. Mabirizi Joseph of Conservative Party[CP], Mr. Robert Sentamu Kyagulanyi of the National Unity Platform[NUP], Mr. Mubarak Munyagwa of Common Man's Party and Mr. Franc Bulira  of Revolutionary Peoples' Party[RPP] after a rather Much more policed Campaigns with the help of the other sister security agencies, The Electoral Commission of Uganda charged with the responsibility of managing the exercise declared President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni winner after garnering 71% plus of the general votes counted. 

However, since than, The western media, Countries and Specifically European Development partners have been so silent about congraturately messages to His excellence President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and where they have spoken it has been nothing but rebuke of the violence that marred the campaigns. This explains the European Parliament stand about the 2026 General elections in Uganda  describing the as a Military operation. 

On Uganda, MEPs condemned the conduct of elections held on 15 January 2026, saying they were marred by abuses, intimidation, fraud, violence and a nationwide internet blackout.

Lawmakers called for the immediate and unconditional release of National Unity Platform leader and presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Bobi Wine, and opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye, as well as others they said were arbitrarily detained, while also denouncing the killing of NUP supporter Mesach Okello.

The resolution urged Uganda to stop using military trials against civilians and to disclose the whereabouts of missing people.

The Iran resolution passed by 524 votes to 3, with 41 abstentions; the Turkey text by 502 to 2, with 59 abstentions; and the Uganda resolution by 514 to 3, with 56 abstentions.

The European Parliament has further denounced Uganda’s recent elections, describing them as a military operation aimed at crushing the only credible opposition. According to the EU, security forces were deployed not to protect voters, but to intimidate, detain, torture, and silence political opponents.

The EU stressed that statements alone are insufficient and called on member states and allied democracies to impose concrete consequences. Suggested measures include targeted sanctions, visa bans, asset freezes, suspension of security cooperation, and a review of aid that may sustain repression.

The Parliament warned that failure to act risks deeper instability, normalized violence, and the erosion of democratic and regional security norms, with consequences extending beyond Uganda’s borders.

European Parliament 2024-2029

TEXTS ADOPTED

The European Parliament,– having regard to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure, 

A. whereas the elections in Uganda on 15 January 2026 were marred by abuses, severe restrictions on civic space, widespread intimidation of opposition figures, fraud, violence, and a nationwide internet blackout;

B. Whereas, according to the official results, President Yoweri Museveni was declared elected for his seventh term in a process that failed to meet fundamental democratic standards;

C. Whereas the military has laid siege to the residence of the National Unity Platform (NUP) leader and presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine), and reportedly assaulted his family and staff; whereas his wife, Barbara Kyagulanyi, had to relocate outside Uganda;

D. Whereas in the lead-up to the election, civil society organizations were arbitrarily suspended and human rights defenders and government critics were targeted, including Sarah Bireete, who was arrested;

E. Whereas the government conducted brutal repression of opposition members, journalists and protesters, with over 400 arbitrary arrests before election day and hundreds more afterwards, with reports of torture and ill-treatment in detention; whereas on 28 November 2025, NUP supporter Mesach Okello was fatally shot during a peaceful rally; whereas NUP regional leaders reportedly disappeared after the elections and remain missing;

F. Whereas long-standing opposition figure Dr Kizza Besigye was illegally rendered from Kenya, detained for over one year prior to the elections, is severely ill and reportedly denied medical care, and faces trial for treason;

1.Strongly condemns the conduct of the elections and the brutal crackdown on political opposition, civil society, journalists and protesters; condemns the harassment of and threats to Bobi Wine; denounces the killing of Mesach Okello;

2.Urges the Ugandan authorities to end all violence, threats, harassment and arbitrary detention of opposition figures, activists and critics, including Bobi Wine and his wife, to immediately and unconditionally release all those arbitrarily detained, including Dr Besigye, to stop resorting to military trials against civilians, to drop all politically motivated charges, including against Sarah Bireete, to urgently disclose the whereabouts of all missing persons, and to ensure justice and accountability, and align judicial practices with constitutional safeguards and international fair trial standards;

3.Urges the Ugandan authorities to end arbitrary suspensions of civil society groups, to refrain from any further internet restrictions, and to undertake comprehensive electoral and institutional reforms, including ensuring the independence of the electoral commission and the judiciary;

4. Calls for the EU, its Member States and regional bodies to critically engage with Ugandan authorities regarding violations, closely monitoring relevant trials;

5.Calls for the EU and its Member States to review cooperation with and assistance for Uganda to ensure respect for EU principles, implement targeted sanctions, and prioritise support for civil society, human rights and LGBTIQ+ defenders, and journalists;

6.Calls for independent and impartial investigations into crimes against humanity committed by Ugandan political and military leaders and of other African countries;

7.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the African Union and the Ugandan authorities.