2026 in Uganda
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Events in the year 2026 in Uganda.
Incumbents
[edit]Events
[edit]January
[edit]- 5 January – The government bans live broadcasts and streaming of riots, unlawful processions, and violent incidents ahead of the presidential election.[1]
- 13 January – The Uganda Communications Commission imposes a suspension of mobile internet services, citing misinformation, electoral fraud and incitement of violence.[2]
- 15 January – 2026 Ugandan general election: Yoweri Museveni is reelected president with 71.65% of the vote.[3]
- 16 January – At least seven people are killed in clashes between police and opposition supporters in Butambala District following the general election.[4]
- 18 January – Authorities partially restore internet services following President Museveni’s election victory, allowing business use while keeping social media blocked.[5]
- 22 January – Opposition MP Muwanga Kivumbi is arrested on charges related to the clashes in Butambala on 16 January.[6]
February
[edit]- 18 February – Police in Arua arrest two women on allegations of engaging in same-sex acts, after they were reportedly seen kissing in public, in violation of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023.[7]
March
[edit]- 8 March – Jacob Kiplimo sets a new men’s half-marathon world record of 57:20 in Lisbon, improving his previous record by 10 seconds.[8]
- 10 March – Five people are killed and 11 others are injured when a bus collides with a truck on the Kampala–Gulu Highway near Bweyale Town, Kiryandongo District.[9]
- 11 March – Uganda announces visa-free entry to nationals of 40 countries.[10]
- 14 March – Opposition leader Bobi Wine announces his departure from Uganda after having gone into hiding since the presidential election in January.[11]
- 17 March – The southern white rhinoceros is reintroduced at Kidepo Valley National Park for the first time since being poached into extinction at the park in 1983.[12]
April
[edit]- 2 April – Four children are killed in a mass stabbing at a school in Kampala. The perpetrator, an adult man, is arrested[13] and sentenced to death on 30 April.[14]
- 28 April – Authorities announce the detention of 231 foreign nationals following two operations against human trafficking and online scams.[15]
May
[edit]- 12 May – Yoweri Museveni is inaugurated to a seventh term as president.[16]
- 15 May – The Ugandan Health Ministry confirms an outbreak of Bundibugyo ebolavirus disease, after a Congolese patient dies in intensive care in Kampala.[17][18]
- 18 May – President Museveni signs the Protection of Sovereignty Bill into law, forbidding foreign interference in the country.[19]
- 19 May – The government issues a temporary ban on handshakes, hugs, and unnecessary physical contact in response to the 2026 Ituri Province Ebola epidemic.[20]
- 24 May – A minivan carrying personnel from the Uganda Revenue Authority collides with an elephant inside Murchison Falls National Park, killing three passengers.[21]
- 26 May – 2026 Central Africa Ebola epidemic: Canada imposes a mandatory 21-day self-isolation for travelers arriving from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan, and suspends visa applications from those countries effective from the next day until 29 August.[22]
- 27 May – 2026 Central Africa Ebola epidemic: The government closes its border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo for four weeks in an effort to limit the spread of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus.[23]
June
[edit]- 15 June – Opposition politician Erias Lukwago is arrested by soldiers after pursuing a case against army chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba.[24]
- 28 June – General Muhoozi Kainerugaba orders the closure of the Daily Monitor and NTV Uganda, stating that he does not believe in a free press. Military personnel are deployed to the media groups' premises in Kampala.[25]
July
[edit]- 7 July – A group of Ugandan farmers file a case in the UK High Court against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), seeking to apply Ugandan constitutional, environmental, and climate law to the project.[26]
- 11 July – At least 16 people die of starvation in the Karamoja sub-region following a prolonged drought that destroyed crops.[27]
- 16 July – A school bus returning from an educational trip to Sipi Falls crashes in Kapchorwa District, killing 21 people.[28]
August
[edit]- 2 August – Uganda inaugurates Yonatan Netanyahu's statue as a honour at Entebbe International Airport.[29]
- 3 August – A taxi van and a truck collide in Kalungu District, killing 14 people.[30]
- 6 August – Uganda authorizes deploying its soldiers for the International Stabilization Force in Gaza.[31]
- 26 August – 2026 Central Africa Ebola epidemic: The World Health Organization declares the end of the Bundibugyo ebolavirus outbreak in Uganda, following the government's declaration a month earlier; the outbreak recorded 20 cases and two deaths.[32]
September
[edit]- 3 September – Uber announces the immediate closure of its ride-hailing in Uganda, ending its operations in the country after beginning there in 2016.[33]
October
[edit]- 25 October – The government imposes a 21-day quarantine on citizens returning from the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of tightened Ebola precautions.[34]
Holidays
[edit]Source:[35]
- 1 January – New Year's Day
- 26 January – Liberation Day
- 16 February – Archbishop Janani Luwum Day
- 8 March – International Women's Day
- 20 March – Ramadan Bairam Holiday
- 3 April – Good Friday
- 5 April – Easter Sunday
- 6 April – Easter Monday
- 1 May – Labour Day
- 27 May – Eid al-Adha
- 3 June – Uganda Martyrs' Day
- 9 June – National Heroes' Day
- 9 October – Independence Day
- 25 December – Christmas Day
- 26 December – Boxing Day
Deaths
[edit]- 17 January – Stella Isodo Apolot, 51, politician, MP (since 2021).[36]
- 19 April – Helen Nakimuli, 40, politician, MP (since 2021).[37]
- 1 June – Master Parrot, 47-48, dancehall and Afro-pop musician.[38]
- 6 June – Musaazi Charles Kalooli, 32, social media influencer.[39]
- 18 July – Moses Ali, 87, military officer, deputy prime minister (1989–1991, 2013–2026).[40]
- 19 July – Christopher Senyonjo, 94, Anglican bishop and LGBT rights campaigner.[41]
- 5 August – David Owori, 27, footballer (SC Villa, national team).[42]
- 27 August – Rukidi IV of Tooro, 34, traditional ruler, Omukama of Tooro (since 1995).[43]
- 24 September – Moses Matovu, 77, musician (Afrigo Band).[44]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Uganda bans live broadcasts of riots and 'unlawful processions' ahead of vote". Reuters. 6 January 2026. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda's military deployed in national capital before presidential election". AP News. 13 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda's Museveni wins seventh term as observers denounce intimidation". France 24. AFP. 2026-01-17. Retrieved 2026-01-17.
- ↑ "At least seven killed overnight in Uganda after tense presidential election". Al Jazeera. 16 January 2026. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
- ↑ Donati, Jessica (19 January 2026). "Uganda partially restores internet after ageing president wins seventh term". Reuters. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
- ↑ Muhumuza, Rodney (22 January 2026). "After presidential election, Ugandan police detain a key ally of opposition figure Bobi Wine". AP News. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda police arrest two women accused of kissing in violation of homosexuality law". Reuters. 24 February 2026. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda's Kiplimo regains half-marathon world record in Lisbon". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ "Five killed in bus–truck crash on Gulu-Kampala highway". Monitor. 2026-03-10. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
- ↑ "New Uganda Visa-free entry for 40 countries, excluding US and EU". Africanews. 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
- ↑ Muhumuza, Rodney (14 March 2026). "Opposition leader Bobi Wine says he left Uganda after going into hiding after disputed election". Associated Press. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda reintroduces rhinos into a protected area where they have been extinct since 1983". AP News. 2026-03-21. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ↑ "Four children killed in nursery school stabbing attack in Uganda". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2026-04-02.
- ↑ "Judge sentences Ugandan man to death following speedy trial for killing 4 children". AP News. May 1, 2026. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda detains 231 foreigners in crackdown on possible human trafficking". AP News. 2026-04-28. Retrieved 2026-04-28.
- ↑ "Uganda's president sworn in for record seventh term". BBC. 12 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ Biryabarema, Elias (15 May 2026). "Uganda confirms outbreak of Ebola virus disease - health ministry". Reuters. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
- ↑ Aboulenein, Ahmed; Chiacu, Doina (15 May 2026). "US monitoring Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda, providing assistance". Reuters. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda enacts new law to protect sovereignty despite opposition". Africanews. 2026-05-18. Retrieved 2026-05-18.
- ↑ "Uganda bans hugs and handshakes as two cases of Ebola are confirmed". The Telegraph. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ "Three dead after vehicle collides with elephant in Uganda national park". Africanews. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Canada will require self-isolation for people traveling from Congo, Sudan and Uganda due to Ebola". AP News. Retrieved 29 May 2026.
- ↑ Biryabarema, Elias; Nzilani, Vincent Mumo (27 May 2026). "Uganda closes border with Congo to try to limit Ebola spread". Reuters. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda opposition figure seized by soldiers as army chief vows 'hurt and pain'". Newsday. Associated Press. 15 June 2026. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
- ↑ Kannampilly, Ammu; Popper, Helen, eds. (28 June 2026). "Uganda's military chief orders shutdown of two major media outlets". Reuters. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- ↑ Kelly, Stephanie (7 July 2026). "Ugandan farmers launch UK case against EACOP pipeline". Reuters. Retrieved 8 July 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda drought: Sixteen starve to death as key crops fail". BBC. 2026-07-11. Retrieved 2026-07-14.
- ↑ Biryabarema, Elias (17 July 2026). "Twenty pupils die in Uganda bus crash, government bans all school outings". Reuters. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Kagoe, Richard (2 August 2026). "Uganda unveils statue of Israel PM's brother who died in Entebbe rescue mission". BBC News. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "14 dead, 4 injured in tragic night crash at Lwera swamp". Monitor. 2026-08-04. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ "Uganda approves sending troops for international force in Gaza". Associated Press. 2026-08-06. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
- ↑ Rigby, Jennifer (26 August 2026). "WHO says Ebola outbreak in Uganda is over, as cases rise in Congo". Reuters. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
- ↑ Okafor, Makuochi (2026-09-02). "Uber shuts operations in Nigeria and Uganda with immediate effect". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
- ↑ Biryabarema, Elias; Eboh, Camillus; Graham, Dave (25 October 2026). "Uganda imposes 21-day quarantine on citizens returning from Congo". Reuters. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- ↑ "Uganda Public Holidays 2026". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
- ↑ "Ngora Woman MP dies". MONITOR. Retrieved January 18, 2025.
- ↑ "Leaders mourn Kalangala MP Hellen Nakimuli". The Independent (Uganda). Kampala, Uganda. Uganda Radio Network. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 20 April 2026.
- ↑ "Legendary singer Master Parrot killed in Northern Bypass accident". Pulse Uganda. 2026-06-01. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
- ↑ Abanga, Edwin (8 June 2026). "Tributes Pour in After Sudden Death of Ugandan Influencer". Yen News. Retrieved 10 June 2026.
- ↑ "Gen Moses Ali dies at 87". The Observer Media Ltd. 2026-07-18. Retrieved 2026-07-21.
- ↑ "Controversial Ex Bishop Christopher Ssenyonjo Dies at 94". Chimp Reports. 20 July 2026. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
- ↑ "Tragedy as SC Villa captain David Owori dies following violent gang attack". Monitor. 2026-08-05. Retrieved 2026-08-05.
- ↑ "Omukama Oyo dies at 34, kingdom assures continuity of the crown". Monitor. 2026-08-27. Retrieved 2026-08-27.
- ↑ "Afrigo Band icon Moses Matovu killed in Kampala attack". Monitor. September 24, 2026.