President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has declared Thursday, January 15, and Friday, January 16, 2026 as public holidays across Uganda to enable citizens to participate in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

The announcement, made through a Legal Notice under the Public Holidays Act, Cap. 174 and gazetted on January 10, states: “In exercise of the powers conferred upon the President by Section 2(2) of the Public Holidays Act, I declare 15th and 16th January, 2026, to be observed as public holidays throughout Uganda for the purpose of enabling citizens to participate in the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.”

The two-day break is intended to give voters time to travel, queue, and cast their ballots without work-related interruptions. Both public and private institutions are required to observe the holidays.

Uganda’s 21.6 million registered voters will head to the polls on January 16, 2026, choosing between incumbent Museveni, who has been in power since 1986 and is now 81, and opposition leader Bobi Wine, in their second electoral face-off after the 2021 contest.

Voters will also elect 353 constituency MPs and 146 women representatives, one from each district. Under Ugandan law, a presidential candidate must secure 50% + 1 vote to avoid a runoff.

The 2021 election saw Museveni win with 58 percent of the vote amid allegations of rigging and opposition crackdowns. The 2026 polls come against a backdrop of regional tensions, including Tanzania’s disputed November 2025 election.