Uganda’s long-serving President, Yoweri Museveni, aged 80, will contest for re-election in the upcoming 2026 general elections, according to an official announcement by the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
The NRM confirmed on its website Tuesday that Museveni, who has led the East African nation since 1986, intends to retain his roles as party chairman and presidential flagbearer. Tanga Odoi, chairman of the NRM electoral commission, told AFP that the veteran leader would formally express his interest in running in the forthcoming polls.
Museveni’s bid, though widely anticipated, further extends his nearly four-decade grip on power. Once praised for championing good governance, the former rebel commander has faced increasing criticism for authoritarian tendencies, including suppressing dissent, amending the constitution to remove term and age limits, and overseeing a harsh crackdown on opposition voices.
As the 2026 elections approach, the political climate in Uganda remains tense. Opposition figures and activists have reported widespread harassment, including abductions, arbitrary detentions, and threats. Musician-turned-politician Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine—who ran against Museveni in 2021—has already declared his intention to run again. The 2021 polls were heavily criticized for irregularities and security force violence.
Wine has been repeatedly arrested, and Museveni’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba—often seen as a potential successor—has used social media to issue inflammatory threats against him.
Meanwhile, veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye was allegedly abducted from Kenya last year and brought back to Uganda, where he now faces a treason charge punishable by death. International human rights organizations and his wife, UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima, have denounced his detention as politically motivated.
As Uganda moves closer to another high-stakes election, concerns about democratic backsliding and human rights violations remain at the forefront of both domestic and international discourse.
