President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has moved to firmly defend his re-election by filing a formal response to a presidential election petition brought before the Supreme Court by former candidate Robert Kasibante. Through his lawyers, the President is asking court to dismiss the petition with costs and to affirm the results of the January 15, 2026 general election.
The response was physically lodged at the Supreme Court by Anthony Bazira and Usaama Sebuufu, who are representing the President. Museveni was declared winner of the polls and sworn in for a seventh term after securing a decisive majority across the country.
Reacting to the legal challenge, the Manager of the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye, welcomed the President’s decision to confront the petition through lawful means, describing it as a sign of political maturity and respect for democratic institutions.
“This is a true mark of a courageous and visionary leader,” Namyalo said. “Instead of intimidation or conflict, His Excellency has chosen the path of law and justice, showing the world that Uganda is a democratic state where institutions work. He is ready to answer every claim with evidence from the ground, because he was genuinely elected by Ugandans.”
Namyalo added that the ONC, together with party structures, stands ready to support the President’s legal team by providing facts and documentation, expressing confidence that the court process will ultimately uphold the will of the people.
Official results released by the Electoral Commission on January 17 show that Museveni garnered 7,946,772 votes, translating to 71.65 percent of the total valid votes cast. The figures marked an improvement from his previous election performance and further cemented the National Resistance Movement’s dominance in Uganda’s political landscape.
The presidential race attracted eight candidates. Robert Kasibante, who ran on the Peasants Party ticket, finished sixth with 33,440 votes. Dissatisfied with both the conduct of the election and the final declaration, Kasibante filed a petition on January 17 under Article 104 of the Constitution and Section 61 of the Presidential Elections Act. His petition, which runs into more than 1,000 pages, lists President Museveni, the Electoral Commission, and the Attorney General as respondents.
Kasibante alleges several irregularities, including the use of polling stations he claims were not properly gazetted and concerns over the deployment and use of Biometric Voter Verification machines during voting.
In his response, President Museveni has denied all the allegations. His legal team maintains that the election was conducted strictly in line with the Constitution and existing electoral laws, arguing that the claims raised in the petition are unsupported and should be dismissed in their entirety.
Previously, the Electoral Commission, chaired by Justice Simon Byabakama, described the election as “successful and generally peaceful.” While acknowledging that some biometric devices experienced technical challenges in certain areas, the Commission explained that legally provided alternatives, such as manual voter verification, were applied to ensure that eligible voters were not disenfranchised.
Voter turnout for the election was recorded at 52 percent. Museveni performed strongly in multiple regions, while his closest competitors included Robert Kyagulanyi of the National Unity Platform, who came second, Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change, and Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation.
Addressing the nation after the results were announced, Museveni said the outcome reflected “the strength” of the NRM and the confidence Ugandans had placed in his leadership. Supporters have credited his administration, in power since 1986, with restoring stability and driving long-term economic development.
The Supreme Court has yet to issue formal directions on when the petition will be heard. Under Uganda’s Constitution, presidential election petitions are handled within strict timelines, and the court is expected to communicate the hearing schedule in due course.
Museveni’s lawyers have reiterated their confidence that the petition will fail on its merits, insisting that the evidence before court confirms both the credibility of the electoral process and the clear mandate delivered by voters across the country.
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