Kenyans planning to cross into Uganda through the Busia and Malaba border points have been urged to suspend their travel plans temporarily as the neighboring country awaits its general election results.
Busia County Commissioner Stephen Orinda issued the travel advisory on Friday, January 16, 2026, citing safety concerns following the general election that was held in Uganda on Thursday, January 15, 2026.
Speaking to journalists in his office, Orinda urged the public to exercise caution and avoid unnecessary travel until the political situation across the border stabilises.
"We saw what happened to the Kenyans in Tanzania when Tanzania was having elections. We lost the lives of Kenyans on that side," Orinda warned.
Travelers returning from Uganda have reported severe disruptions, with communication networks cut off and numerous roadblocks erected across the country.
One traveller from Kampala said the situation was chaotic, with voters moving from house to house, and noted that all lines of communication had been cut off.
Another traveler who spent twelve hours at the border shared his ordeal, noting that what normally takes three hours had stretched overnight from 6 pm yesterday.
The advisory recalls the tragic October 2025 Tanzania elections when at least two Kenyans were confirmed killed during post-election violence.
John Ogutu, a 33-year-old Kenyan teacher, was shot by police in Dar es Salaam on October 29, and his body remains missing to date.
Albert Kamala was allegedly arrested on October 29, the election day in Moshi, and later found dead, while two other Kenyans were critically injured by gunfire near the Namanga border.
Human rights groups estimated that between 700 and 3,000 people died in Tanzania's post-election crackdown, though official figures remain significantly lower.
Uganda has witnessed widespread repression since its last election campaigns, with hundreds of opposition supporters arrested and detained on politically motivated charges.
Prominent opposition leaders including Dr. Kizza Besigye and Robert Kyagulanyi have been repeatedly detained, with Besigye spending over a year in custody since late 2024.
"We are on high alert. If there is any concern that touches on security, we have advised them to communicate on time so we can take appropriate action," Orinda stated.
The advisory comes as provisional presidential election results released by the Electoral Commission of Uganda put Museveni in the lead at 75.38 per cent and Bobi Wine at 20.71 per cent by the time of the publication of this story.
International bodies such as the United Nations on January 9, 2026 called warned against the use of violence against protesters, stressing that repression and impunity have become entrenched in Uganda since the last vote in 2021, with restrictions on free speech and the right to protest.
The Kenyan government secured the release of at least eight citizens detained in Tanzania, though some remained in custody facing various charges as of late 2025.
Orinda assured Busia residents that security officers are continuing patrols at all border points to ensure their safety during this sensitive period.
