Kampala, Uganda Uganda’s long-serving President Yoweri Museveni will once again seek re-election in 2026, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) announced on Monday, confirming the 80-year-old leader’s intention to extend his decades-long hold on power.
The announcement was made at the close of a high-level NRM Central Executive Committee meeting in Entebbe, where party leaders unanimously endorsed Museveni as the flagbearer for the upcoming general elections.
“The Central Executive Committee has resolved that H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will be our candidate in 2026,” NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong told reporters. “His leadership remains indispensable to the stability and progress of Uganda.”
The news has sparked immediate reaction both domestically and internationally, reigniting debates about democratic stagnation, political succession, and the role of aging leaders in African governance. Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, is one of the world’s longest-serving presidents.
Uganda removed presidential age limits in a controversial 2017 constitutional amendment, effectively clearing the way for Museveni to remain in office indefinitely, provided he continues to win elections.
Opposition leaders quickly criticized the announcement, with the National Unity Platform (NUP) describing it as a “betrayal of Uganda’s future.” Party leader Bobi Wine, who challenged Museveni in the disputed 2021 election, said on X (formerly Twitter), “This is not leadership. It is a personal monarchy disguised as a democracy.”
Political analysts say Museveni’s continued dominance of the NRM leaves little room for internal debate about succession, even as younger generations clamor for change in a country where the median age is just 17.
Despite questions about his age and health, Museveni has remained active on the national stage, recently touring infrastructure projects and delivering speeches that frame his rule as a safeguard against instability in the region.
While Museveni’s supporters tout his legacy of peace and development, critics argue that his government has grown increasingly authoritarian, with security crackdowns on dissent, restrictions on the press, and repeated allegations of electoral fraud.
The 2026 election, if contested under the current climate, could be another flashpoint in Uganda’s complex political landscape.