KAMPALA, Uganda (BN24) — Uganda’s ruling party on Tuesday confirmed that President Yoweri Museveni, 80, will once again seek re-election, aiming to extend his nearly 40-year grip on power in the East African nation.
The announcement from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came via a statement on its official website, stating that Museveni intends “to retain the positions of the NRM chairman and party presidential flag bearer in the 2026 elections.” Tanga Odoi, chair of the NRM’s electoral commission, later confirmed to AFP that Museveni would formally express his interest in continuing as the party’s presidential candidate.
The decision, though long anticipated, adds fresh tension to an already fraught political landscape ahead of the general election scheduled for January 2026. The opposition, which has increasingly been targeted by the state, faces intensifying repression marked by arrests, abductions, and intimidation of key figures and supporters.
Museveni, a former rebel who took power in 1986, was once seen as a reformist committed to restoring Uganda’s stability after years of chaos. But over time, he has steadily dismantled constitutional term and age limits, consolidating power and neutralizing opponents through legal and extralegal means.
Museveni’s renewed bid comes just weeks after his most prominent rival, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, announced his intention to run in the 2026 election. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, lost to Museveni in the 2021 contest, which was widely criticized by observers for voter suppression, widespread irregularities, and state-led violence.
Since entering politics, Wine has faced multiple arrests and harassment, while top government figures — including Museveni’s son and presumed successor, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba — have publicly threatened him. On social media, Kainerugaba has issued chilling posts, including threats of execution, against the opposition leader.
Another longtime critic of Museveni, Kizza Besigye, was reportedly abducted from Kenya last year and forcibly returned to Uganda. He now faces treason charges that carry the death penalty. Human rights groups and international observers have condemned the case as politically motivated.
Besigye’s wife, UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima, condemned his detention as “political persecution,” saying, “He is being criminalised because he has challenged, he has put himself forward as a candidate in elections.”
Museveni’s persistent hold on power and repeated constitutional manipulations have raised fears that Uganda is sliding deeper into authoritarian rule. His son Muhoozi Kainerugaba has taken on an increasingly visible political role, fueling speculation that a dynastic succession is being prepared behind the scenes.
Despite domestic unrest and international criticism, Museveni has long relied on a loyal military and tight control over the media and judiciary to suppress dissent. His administration has often dismissed opposition leaders as foreign-backed agitators or security threats.
Museveni’s sixth official presidential campaign in 2026 is likely to be contested in an environment heavily tilted in his favor, with state institutions aligned against challengers and a security apparatus that has shown little restraint in cracking down on protest and dissent.
As Uganda inches closer to the polls, rights groups, foreign governments, and international observers are watching closely — though many warn that without sweeping reforms, the vote may only further entrench one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers.
