Museveni declares two-day public holiday for electionsAs Uganda heads to the polls on Thursday, President Museveni has declared a two-day public holiday to allow voters ample time to participate in the presidential and parliamentary elections. Prof Sabiti Makara, a political analyst, said the public holiday would enable voters to exercise their constitutional right without work-related constraints. The two-day public holiday gives them sufficient time to travel, vote, and return without pressure,” Prof Makara said. He added that declaring election day a public holiday is common practice in many countries and could significantly boost voter turnout, especially among workers in both the public and private sectors. According to the EC, about 21.6 million registered voters are expected to participate in the elections across various categories.

Source: Daily Nation January 12, 2026 17:25 UTC