KAMPALA– President Yoweri Museveni, through his legal team, has filed a formal response to the presidential election petition lodged by former candidate Robert Kasibante at the Supreme Court, categorically denying all allegations and requesting the court dismiss the case with costs.
The documents were physically submitted at the Supreme Court by lawyers Anthony Bazira and Usaama Sebuufu on behalf of the President, who was recently re-elected to his seventh term with an overwhelming majority.
Museveni secured 71.65 percent of the vote in the January 15, 2026 general elections, according to official results announced by the Electoral Commission on January 17. The President received 7,946,772 votes from the more than 11 million ballots cast, representing a significant improvement from his previous electoral performance.
The election saw eight presidential candidates compete for Uganda’s highest office, with Museveni’s National Resistance Movement demonstrating its continued dominance in Ugandan politics.
Robert Kasibante, who represented the Peasants Party and finished sixth in the race with 33,440 votes, filed his petition on January 17 under Article 104 of the Constitution and Section 61 of the Presidential Elections Act. His extensive petition, spanning more than 1,000 pages, names President Museveni, the Electoral Commission, and the Attorney General as respondents.
The petition challenges both the conduct of the election and the declaration of Museveni as winner, claiming the electoral process was marred by various procedural irregularities.
Among Kasibante’s central claims is the allegation that 15,256 polling stations representing nearly 30 percent of the total were not gazetted before polling day, yet were used for voting, counting, and tallying. He also raised concerns about the deployment and functionality of Biometric Voter Verification machines.
In his formal answer filed at the Supreme Court, President Museveni denies these allegations and maintains that the election was conducted in accordance with the Constitution and relevant electoral laws. The President’s legal team is seeking a full dismissal of the petition with costs awarded to the respondent.
The Electoral Commission, led by Chairman Justice Simon Byabakama, oversaw the election process. The commission reported that the election was “successful and generally peaceful”, though it acknowledged technical challenges with biometric verification equipment at some polling stations.
When biometric systems experienced difficulties, election officials implemented contingency measures, reverting to manual voter verification to ensure citizens could exercise their constitutional right to vote. The commission maintained that these adjustments did not compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
The President’s electoral performance reflected strong support across Uganda’s regions. Voter turnout stood at 52%, with Museveni demonstrating particularly robust backing in several key areas of the country.
Other candidates in the race included Robert Kyagulanyi of the National Unity Platform, who came in second place, Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change, and retired Major General Gregory Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation Party, among others.
President Museveni, who has led Uganda since 1986, emphasized the strength of his party and his mandate following the election results. Addressing the nation from his country home in western Uganda, Museveni said the result gave “a good taste of the strength” of his party, the National Resistance Movement.
His supporters credit him with bringing stability and economic development to Uganda over his decades in office, transforming the nation from post-independence turmoil into a regional anchor of peace and relative prosperity.
The Supreme Court has not yet issued directions regarding the hearing schedule for Kasibante’s petition. Uganda’s constitution and electoral laws provide specific timeframes for the resolution of presidential election petitions, and the court is expected to announce its procedural calendar in due course.
President Museveni’s legal team maintains confidence that the petition will be dismissed on its merits, affirming the legitimacy of the electoral process and the clear mandate given by Ugandan voters.
