The United States Embassy in Uganda has circulated a security alert to American nationals after reports emerged of security agencies deploying tear gas and live rounds to break up crowds as the country awaits official presidential election results.
In an advisory dated Friday, January 16, the Embassy urged U.S. citizens in Uganda to remain on high alert and steer clear of large public gatherings nationwide.
“Uganda held presidential elections on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Official results are pending. There are reports of security forces using teargas and firing into the air to disperse gatherings,” the Embassy stated.
The mission outlined a series of safety precautions for Americans during the tense post-election period.
President Yoweri Museveni and Bobi Wine, who are competing against each other in the Uganda presidential elections 2026. /VIRAL TEA KE
“U.S. citizens are encouraged to exercise enhanced caution, avoid large public gatherings, and limit unnecessary movements,” the advisory continued.
Further guidance included closely following local news updates, avoiding demonstrations and crowds, maintaining a low profile, staying alert to surroundings, and keeping mobile phones fully charged with emergency contacts saved.
Americans were also reminded to carry valid identification at all times, including a U.S. passport with a current Ugandan visa.
The alert comes as vote tallying continues following Thursday’s presidential poll. Provisional figures released by Uganda’s Electoral Commission on Friday, January 16, placed incumbent President Yoweri Museveni firmly ahead, with 76.25 per cent of votes counted from about half of all polling stations.
His closest rival, musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, followed at 19.85 per cent, while six other contenders split the remainder.
The election, however, has been clouded by claims of irregularities and violence. Bobi Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP) party has alleged that the opposition leader is currently under house arrest, with his residence encircled by military and police officers.
NUP claims security personnel unlawfully accessed Wine’s home by jumping over the perimeter fence and pitched tents inside the compound, effectively restricting both him and his wife.
“He is under house arrest. The Military and police surrounded his house last evening. He is not allowed to interact with his agents,” stated Benjamin Katana, NUP’s head of Finance.
Earlier on election day, Wine publicly flagged multiple concerns over the conduct of the vote, pointing to alleged nationwide internet blackouts, widespread ballot stuffing, abductions of polling officials, and coordinated failures of voting machines.
“The world needs to know what is happening in Uganda on election day. The Internet is switched off. Massive ballot stuffing reported everywhere,” Wine stated on Thursday.
He further alleged that several NUP officials, including the party’s Deputy President for the Western Region, had been arrested, while many polling agents and supervisors were either abducted or forcibly ejected from polling stations.
