By Enyichukwu Enemanna
President of Uganda, who has been in office for nearly four decades, will seek re-election for another term in an election coming up early next year, a senior official of his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party has confirmed.
Yoweri Museveni, who came to office in 1986, is the fourth longest-serving leader in Africa.
Although it was widely expected that the 80-year-old leader would join in the presidential race, this is the first time such confirmation is coming from the ruling NRM party.
In January 2026, Ugandans will file out to vote in both presidential and parliamentary elections.
His ruling NRM party has twice amended the constitution to create room for Museveni to remain in office.
In a video posted late on Monday by state broadcaster UBC on social media platform X, the chairperson of the ruling party’s electoral body, Tanga Odoi, said Museveni would pick up forms on June 28 to represent the party in the polls.
“The president … will pick (up) expression-of-interest forms for two positions, one for chairperson of the party and the other to contest if he is given chance for presidential flag bearer,” Odoi said.
NRM and other political parties are currently screening and clearing their candidates for the polls.
Museveni’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, known for making inflammatory comments on social media, was earlier touted to succeed his father.
General Kainerugaba, who is also the defence chief, had threatened to behead opposition figure, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, who will challenge his father at the polls next year.
Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, rejected the 2021 results which he lost to Museveni, saying his victory had been stolen through ballot stuffing, intimidation by security forces, and other irregularities.
Rights activists and critics have long accused Museveni of using patronage and security forces to maintain his grip on power, but he has denied the accusations and says his long rule is due to popular support.
