Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has officially announced that President Yoweri Museveni will contest the 2026 general elections, setting the stage for a potentially tense political showdown.
The 80-year-old leader, who has been in power since 1986, is expected to pick up his nomination forms on June 28, marking his intention to extend his nearly four-decade rule.
The announcement, made this week by NRM officials, reaffirms Museveni’s stronghold on Ugandan politics. This comes despite growing criticism over democratic backsliding and authoritarian tendencies in the East African nation.
Constitutional amendments passed in previous years scrapped both presidential term limits and age limits, paving the way for Museveni to remain eligible for yet another term.
Museveni’s main challenger remains opposition leader Bobi Wine, a popular musician-turned-politician with a strong following among Uganda’s youth. Wine, who heads the National Unity Platform (NUP), contested the 2021 elections under highly charged and controversial conditions. He has already declared his intention to challenge Museveni again in 2026.
The upcoming vote is widely expected to draw international attention, given Uganda’s recent political tensions and human rights concerns.
Observers say the 2026 elections could become one of the most hotly contested and closely watched in Uganda’s recent history.