Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has officially declared his intention to run for a seventh term in Uganda’s 2026 presidential elections, setting the stage for what could become over four decades of uninterrupted rule.
The 80-year-old leader, who first took power in 1986 after leading a five-year armed liberation struggle, announced his decision via a post on the social media platform X. He confirmed he had “expressed interest in running for the position of presidential flag bearer” for his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
From Guerrilla Fighter to Statesman
Museveni rose to power promising stability and democratic governance after years of post-independence upheaval, including the brutal regimes of Idi Amin and Milton Obote. His early years in office were marked by economic stabilisation and peace-building, winning him broad support both domestically and abroad.
However, his long tenure has also seen the NRM orchestrate two constitutional amendments—removing presidential term limits in 2005 and scrapping age limits in 2017. These legal adjustments paved the way for Museveni to extend his leadership indefinitely.
An Economy in Transition
Museveni has defended his extended presidency as vital for Uganda’s development trajectory. Speaking to NRM supporters, he outlined five distinct phases of Uganda’s economic evolution under his leadership. These include:
Post-war Recovery: Stabilising the economy after years of conflict.
Expansion: Reviving key exports such as coffee and tea.
Diversification: Reducing dependency on traditional exports.
Value Addition: Encouraging local processing and industrial growth.
Knowledge Economy: Advancing a science- and technology-driven development model.
The president now claims Uganda can become a $500 billion economy within five years, a dramatic leap from its current GDP of approximately $66 billion, according to government figures.
“There’s something else I will not talk about today,” Museveni teased, hinting at future plans to further consolidate national development.
Bobi Wine: The Main Challenger
Museveni’s most prominent opponent is expected to be Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine. The musician-turned-politician galvanised youth support in the 2021 election, presenting a serious challenge to Museveni’s rule.
Wine rejected the 2021 election results, alleging widespread rigging, ballot stuffing, and voter intimidation. His house arrest following the polls and the militarized state response drew international condemnation. He has confirmed he will once again contest the presidency in 2026.
Shrinking Democratic Space
Human rights organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have raised alarms over the use of military courts to prosecute civilians, opposition figures, and critics. Despite the Ugandan Supreme Court ruling this practice unconstitutional, a recent law passed by Parliament permits military trials for civilians—fuelling concerns about creeping authoritarianism.
Rights groups accuse Museveni of using state institutions, particularly the security forces, to suppress dissent. His government denies these allegations.
“Ugandan authorities have for years misused military courts to crack down on opponents,” said Oryem Nyeko, a senior Africa researcher at HRW.
In 2018, Bobi Wine was arrested and charged in a military court for allegedly possessing illegal firearms—a charge later dropped, but which underscored the risks faced by opposition candidates.
Pan-African Context
Museveni is currently Africa’s fourth longest-ruling leader, following Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang, Cameroon’s Paul Biya, and Congo Republic’s Denis Sassou-Nguesso. His continued leadership reflects a broader continental debate about succession planning, generational transition, and the balance between stability and democratic renewal.
Uganda, which gained independence from Britain in 1962, remains a pivotal state in East Africa. Its future—politically and economically—will be closely watched across the region and the continent at large.
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