Ugandan President Museveni, in power since 1986, to seek another term

Yoweri Museveni, the country’s long-term leader, has been confirmed to contest the country’s election campaign for president in January 2026 as he prepares to extend his nearly 40-year rule there.

After electoral officials announced the 81-year-old leader’s inclusion on the ballot, Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, on Tuesday urged supporters to support his vision for the future.

In June, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party officially announced his candidacy for president.

Museveni thanked his supporters for allowing him to run again for the terms of 2026 and 2031 in a post on X.

According to him, “Kissanja’s GDP has increased from $34 billion to $66 billion in this economy,” he wrote. In the upcoming five years, he has promised to make Uganda’s economy a $500 billion.

You now have access to peace, roads, telephones, manpower, roads, roads, and electricity that you once had. Many investors are flooded by that reason because they want to invest in a peaceful and profitable area, he continued.

Museveni stated that the party’s priorities would be wealth creation, education, infrastructure, crime, corruption, health, and water in a list of pledges for the upcoming term.

Among our priorities for this term are:

1. Everyone should be a part of the money economy, according to the constitution.
2. Education: All students in public primary and secondary schools should receive free education.
3. Infrastructure: Roads should be maintained and tarnished on time. twitter.com/KhDcNeyJaH

Museveni’s military regime was overthrown by his NRM party in 1986, prompting an uprising by Museveni’s party.

Museveni, the then-leader of the movement’s armed group, took office as president after the NRM won the war. The president has since been elected in subsequent elections.

Museveni can continue to be in power thanks to a constitutional amendment that removed the 75-year-old age restriction for presidential candidates.

However, Bobi Wine, the leader’s main political opponent, is expected to be announced as a candidate for the upcoming election later this week.

Wine won 35% of the vote in the 2021 elections, with Museveni winning 58%, which is his worst-ever result.

Wine accused Museveni of alleged voter fraud and ballot stuffing, but his election performance established him as the most powerful adversary to Museveni’s rule.