- Uganda’s electoral commission announced that President Yoweri Museveni won more than 7.9 million votes, extending his decades-long rule.
- The committee pointed out that the veteran leader, who has been in power since 1986, won more than 50% of the valid votes, exceeding the constitutional requirements.
Uganda’s Electoral Commission has officially declared President Yoweri Museveni the winner of the 2026 presidential election, ensuring his re-election after a heated vote that was criticized for internet shutdowns and restrictions on civil society activities.
The news was announced by Simon Byabakama, chairman of the commission, who revealed that Museveni received more than 7.9 million votes, the highest among all candidates.
The committee pointed out that the veteran leader, who has been in power since 1986, won more than 50% of the valid votes, exceeding the constitutional requirements.
“The Commission hereby declares the candidate Yoweri Museveni the winner after receiving the highest number of votes cast at the election and the votes cast in his favor exceed 50% of the total valid votes cast at the election,” BAbakama said.
Official data showed that 11.4 million voters took part in Thursday’s election, accounting for 52.50% of the national voter turnout.
In other news… Neighbors of late Nollywood actress Orwell Ademola have shared a touching account of her final moments.
The neighbor, in an interview with actress Abiola Ayomide Adebayo, revealed that it took Alwell more than 30 minutes to open her door because she struggled to get dressed.
She recalled that she ended up driving Orwell to the hospital herself because the person who was supposed to take her was too nervous to do so.
The neighbor also recalled Orwell once jokingly saying that she was lucky to have wonderful neighbors who always supported her – a statement that proved to be true on that tragic day.
Describing the unusual situation, she explained that Orwell rarely drove out of the compound on her own, but that day, she somehow found the strength to take the wheel and rush to the hospital.
The urgency of the moment was so palpable that even those around the pipeline where Orwell lived noticed something was seriously wrong.
Looking back on the experience, neighbors admit the reality of Allwell’s death still feels unreal. She said seeing the actress’ personal belongings surrounding the house made it difficult to accept that she was gone.
In her words, a neighbor said:
“It took almost 30 minutes. It took a long time. I had to keep saying, actress, please open the door. Because I thought she was having a hard time getting into the dress. And because, you know, she never knew how it was going to be… the way it was going to end. If not, she wouldn’t have minded us breaking down the door. She was covering herself up. Honestly, she wouldn’t have minded breaking down the door that day. We tried. We lifted her up. About five o’clock. Or six people lifting her into the car, and I had to drive myself because, you know, she joked.
They told her at one point, what would you do if anything happened? She said, I have good neighbors, you know.
We have people driving. The man was nervous. a man. I had to tell the guy, you know, come open the door. And I drive the car myself. Even faster than I could do. I never…I don’t like going out in cars. But that day, I didn’t know where that power came from. I drive very fast.
Even the people at the plumbing company where she lived knew something was wrong. Too bad. Very bad. It still feels like a dream to me, especially when I see what’s around her. I ask, is this true? “
