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Photos show voters going to the polls in Uganda’s presidential election
A supporter of leading opposition candidate Bobi Wine cheers while watching election officials count ballots, after polls closed at a polling station in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
By
HAJARAH NALWADDA, SAMSON OTIENO and BRIAN INGANGA
MUKUNO, Uganda (AP) — Photos show polling in Uganda’s election as President Yoweri Museveni seeks a seventh term, facing a strong challenge from the musician-turned-politician best known as Bobi Wine. Some polling stations remained closed for up to four hours after the scheduled 7 a.m. start time on Thursday due to “technical challenges,” according to the nation’s electoral commission.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, famously known as Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), casts his vote during the presidential election at a polling station, in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, famously known as Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), casts his vote during the presidential election at a polling station, in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Voters line up to cast their ballots during the presidential election at a polling station in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Voters line up to cast their ballots during the presidential election at a polling station in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
A woman casts her vote during the presidential election at a polling station in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
A woman casts her vote during the presidential election at a polling station in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Traffic police officers sit in front of campaign posters of President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, during the general election, in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Traffic police officers sit in front of campaign posters of President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, during the general election, in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Security forces guard a ballot box at a polling station as voters wait in line after voting failed to start on time due to system failures in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Security forces guard a ballot box at a polling station as voters wait in line after voting failed to start on time due to system failures in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Billboards of Uganda President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni are seen in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Billboards of Uganda President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni are seen in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, famously known as Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), shows the ink on his finger after casting his vote, during the presidential election at a polling station, in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, famously known as Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform (NUP), shows the ink on his finger after casting his vote, during the presidential election at a polling station, in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, center left, greets election observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at his home in Magere village on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, center left, greets election observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at his home in Magere village on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Voters line up to cast their ballots at a polling station, during the presidential election, in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
Voters line up to cast their ballots at a polling station, during the presidential election, in the capital, Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)
A supporter of Uganda’s President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni reacts during a campaign rally in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)
A supporter of Uganda’s President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni reacts during a campaign rally in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who is known as Bobi Wine waves to supporters at an election campaign rally in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)
Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, who is known as Bobi Wine waves to supporters at an election campaign rally in Mukono, Uganda, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)