President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda will seek re-election in the country’s forthcoming general elections, extending his already 39-year rule if successful, the ruling party confirmed on Tuesday.
The 80-year-old leader, once celebrated as a champion of democratic governance, has faced growing criticism for stifling dissent and repeatedly amending the constitution to prolong his time in power.
In a statement posted on the official website of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the party announced that Museveni “seeks to retain the positions of the NRM chairman and party presidential flag bearer in the 2026 elections.” Tanga Odoi, chairperson of the party’s electoral commission, confirmed to AFP that the president would soon formally declare his candidacy.
The East African nation is expected to head to the polls in January 2026.
Ahead of the elections, opposition voices have faced intensified crackdowns. Reports of abductions, detentions, and harassment of activists and political opponents have increased sharply.
Museveni’s main challenger in the last election, Robert Kyagulanyi—popularly known as Bobi Wine—has already declared his intention to run again. The 2021 elections, in which Wine lost to Museveni, were marred by allegations of vote rigging and a violent crackdown by state security forces.
Wine has faced multiple arrests since entering politics, with open threats from Museveni’s son and military commander, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has used social media to warn of violence against the opposition leader.
Another veteran opposition figure, Kizza Besigye, was abducted last year in Kenya and brought back to Uganda, where he now faces treason charges carrying a possible death sentence. His arrest has been widely criticised by human rights groups and international observers.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, who is Besigye’s wife, said he was targeted “for political reasons.”
“He is being criminalised because he has challenged, he has put himself forward as a candidate in elections,” she said.
Museveni has been in power since 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. His re-election bid comes amid increasing pressure from civil society and the international community to allow free and fair elections.
