By Gloria Nosa
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has officially declared his intention to run for a seventh term in the country’s 2026 presidential election, extending a rule that has lasted 40 years.
Museveni, 81, first assumed power in 1986 following a guerrilla campaign and has maintained control ever since, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. His candidacy was recently approved by Uganda’s Electoral Commission, allowing him to contest the election scheduled for January 15, 2026.
Initially celebrated for ending decades of political instability and autocratic rule, Museveni’s tenure has in recent years been clouded by allegations of corruption, erosion of civic freedoms, and increasingly authoritarian governance. Kristof Titeca, a University of Antwerp professor, noted that “corruption has been central to his rule from the beginning.”
Museveni’s campaign is polarizing: supporters credit him with long-term stability, infrastructure development, and economic growth, while opponents—including pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine—warn of continued authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and nepotism.
Analysts suggest Museveni’s re-election is highly probable, but uncertainty surrounds succession plans, particularly given his advancing age and signs of declining physical strength. Observers point to the rapid rise of Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Uganda’s military chief, as a potential heir apparent. Critics argue the son’s accelerated political and military career is designed to secure a dynastic succession, while some of Museveni’s long-time political allies have been sidelined.
Former newspaper editor Charles Onyango-Obbo noted that the upcoming election may be less about the immediate results and more about gauging the political atmosphere ahead of a possible transition. “Museveni is more frail now, but he is a workaholic… he will not leave even if he needs to use a walking stick,” Onyango-Obbo observed.
As Uganda approaches the January polls, the nation faces a critical juncture in its political history: maintaining continuity under a longstanding leader or preparing for eventual leadership renewal.
