Many Ugandans may not have won the bigger trophy on the bigger stage, but make no mistake, the hate watchers still feasted. January 15, 2026, delivered something for everyone. Even in the middle of alleged rigging, disputed numbers, and serious faces on TV panels, the timeline found its happiness. If there is one thing Ugandans can do effortlessly, it is turning national tension into premium entertainment.
While the top seat stayed exactly where it has been camping for decades, Parliament experienced what can only be described as selective justice and Ugandans enjoyed every second of it. Cabinet ministers losing their seats became a form of emotional compensation. You could almost hear people whisper, “At least something worked”. For many, this was not about policy or governance. This was personal. That minister who never fixed the system, Gone. The one who disappeared after elections? Out. The one who only resurfaced to launch boreholes with photographers? Eliminated.
Of course, the serious conversations were there; allegations of rigging, irregularities, and the usual post-election chaos. But Ugandans have mastered the art of multitasking. You can demand accountability while laughing at a meme of a politician holding a Taiwan ticket outside Parliament. Pain and humour coexist here very comfortably. Some of the loudest celebrants were not even opposition loyalists.
They were professional haters. People who do not attend rallies, do not wear party colours, but will show up online with popcorn and data bundles. Hate-watching is a full-time job in this country, and business was booming. Ugandans are natural-born trolls, and elections were our Olympics. We may not have flipped the system, but we flipped a few egos and that was enough to keep the timeline smiling. In a country where hope comes in instalments, sometimes a small political loss is the joy we need to survive the bigger picture.
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