Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) presidential candidate Nathan Nandala Mafabi has rejected the outcome of Uganda’s 2026 presidential elections, describing the entire process as fraudulent and calling for the immediate resignation of the Electoral Commission (EC) led by Justice Simon Byabakama.
Mafabi made the remarks while addressing a press conference in Mbale City, alongside FDC president Patrick Amuriat Oboi, Jack Sabiiti, and other party officials and former candidates.
According to Mafabi, the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections did not reflect the true will of the Ugandan people and were instead aimed at legitimising President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s continued stay in power.
“The just concluded presidential and parliamentary elections were a ritual to legitimise the incumbent’s overstay and justify his 7th term in office,” Mafabi said.
According to official results released by the Electoral Commission, President Museveni was declared winner with 7,944,772 votes (71.65%).
NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) came second with 2,741,238 votes (24.72%), while Mafabi trailed with 209,039 votes (1.88%).
Mafabi dismissed the figures, claiming the elections were characterised by violence, intimidation, ballot stuffing and result manipulation.
He further accused security agencies and the Electoral Commission of colluding to rig the vote, alleging that youth skilling hubs were used as ballot pre-ticking centres in opposition strongholds like Mbale and Soroti.
Mafabi also condemned the internet and mobile money shutdown, saying it crippled opposition coordination and communication.
“The internet was shut down intentionally to deny information to the masses and slow down our operations,” he said.
He added that the failure of biometric voter verification machines caused massive delays, forcing many voters to leave polling stations without voting.
“This was a premeditated and organised disenfranchisement of voters,” Mafabi noted.
While the Electoral Commission put voter turnout at 52.5%, with about 11.3 million voters, FDC claims over 10 million registered voters never participated.
Mafabi said FDC rejects the presidential results in totality and is demanding sweeping electoral reforms, including the resignation and reconstitution of the Electoral Commission.
He also welcomed concerns raised by the African Union observer mission, which questioned the fairness of the elections, citing internet shutdowns, arrests of opposition supporters, and heavy military deployment.
“The struggle for a free, fair and democratic Uganda will continue without reservations,” Mafabi concluded.