Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has urged voters to cast their ballots peacefully and leave polling stations immediately during the January 15, 2026, presidential election.

Speaking ahead of the polls, General Muhoozi emphasized that the vote-counting process would be conducted transparently, with the presence of party agents, media representatives, and election observers to ensure credibility.

He, however, warned that any attempts to disrupt the electoral process would be met with swift legal action, stressing that security agencies would not tolerate disorder at polling centres.

General Muhoozi’s comments come amid growing calls from some Ugandans for so-called “protest votes,” a practice in which voters remain near polling stations after voting to monitor the fairness of the exercise.

The CDF maintained that existing electoral safeguards are sufficient to guarantee transparency and urged citizens to respect electoral laws to ensure a peaceful and orderly election.