Museveni To Seek Seventh Term In 2026 As Critics Decry Democratic Backside
Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni will run for a seventh consecutive term in the 2026 general elections, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) confirmed this week, setting the stage for another high-stakes political contest.
The 80-year-old leader, who has ruled since 1986, is expected to collect his nomination papers on 28 June, according to NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi.
Museveni will seek to retain both the party chairmanship and the presidential flagbearer position, extending his grip on power beyond four decades.
According to a report by Face of Malawi.com, the announcement was delivered by senior NRM officials, reaffirming Museveni’s position as the party’s dominant figure.
The move has reignited criticism from civil society actors who accuse his administration of suppressing dissent, stalling democratic reforms, and weakening institutional checks.
Museveni’s eligibility follows two key constitutional amendments: the removal of presidential term limits in 2005 and the scrapping of the age cap in 2017, which had previously barred candidates over 75 from running.
These changes cleared the legal path for his continued hold on power.
His main challenger remains Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine—a pop star-turned-politician and leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Wine, who finished second in the contentious 2021 poll, has pledged to run again, hoping to mobilise Uganda’s youth bloc and press for democratic transition.
Rights groups warn of rising political tension ahead of the 2026 elections, citing ongoing arrests of opposition figures, restrictions on press freedom, and the controversial reactivation of military courts for civilians despite constitutional court objections.
As the campaign season approaches, observers say Uganda’s next election may become a pivotal moment for the country’s political future—testing both the resilience of its democratic institutions and the legacy of its longest-serving president.
