Monitor – UG – Uganda’s Electoral Commission has pledged to uphold the constitutional time limit requiring the declaration of the duly elected president within 48 hours, as stipulated in Article 103, Clause 7 of the country’s 1995 Constitution.
Justice Simon Byabakama, the Commission’s chairperson, said yesterday that the next president will be announced on Saturday before 5pm, in line with the law.
“As for the presidential elections, these are being transmitted to the National Tally Centre here in Lubowa, Wakiso District. We want you to note that the constituency for the presidential candidate is the entire country,” Justice Byabakama said.
“Accordingly, the Electoral Commission will tally all results from Uganda’s districts and cities at this centre and finally declare the elected candidate for presidency within 48 hours from the closure of the polls,” he added.
Justice Byabakama emphasised that the declaration of results would begin immediately and continue until Saturday, January 17, 2026, when the final results will be announced.
“Tallying of results will start as soon as they become available, beginning today, Thursday, January 15, 2026, and will continue until Saturday, January 17, 2026, when the final results will be declared before 5pm,” he said.
He thanked all Ugandans who participated in the elections for exercising their constitutional right to choose their leaders, noting that democracy is only as strong as the people who stand up to be counted.
Justice Byabakama also thanked Ugandans for keeping the peace during the process and urged calm among candidates and their supporters as results are compiled. Voting was scheduled to begin at 7am, but the biometric machines, touted as the silver bullet against malpractice, went belly up, forcing the Commission to start voting as late as 11am in many polling stations.
Faced with this setback, Justice Byabakama said the Commission had to extend voting hours from 4pm to 5pm to give those who had left in frustration a chance to cast their ballots. “The Commission had to use its special powers to extend the voting time to allow those who had come earlier and left because of the delays to vote,” he explained.
