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Uganda’s long-serving leader, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, now 80 years old, has confirmed he will seek a seventh term in office during the country’s 2026 general elections, scheduled for January 12, 2026. The announcement, though long expected, has reignited national and international debate about democracy, generational leadership, and the future of political freedom in the East African nation.
Museveni, who first took power in 1986, has ruled Uganda for nearly four decades. Through constitutional amendments, he has systematically removed checks on his rule: term limits were abolished in 2005, and in 2017, Parliament dominated by his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) scrapped the age cap of 75 for presidential candidates. These changes effectively cleared the path for his continued candidacy well into his 80s.
Speaking at an NRM leadership retreat earlier this year, party officials confirmed that Museveni will be their flagbearer once again.
“He is the guarantor of stability, security, and development,” said NRM Secretary General Richard Todwong. “There is no better candidate.”
However, Museveni’s bid comes amid growing discontent within Uganda’s youthful population. Over 70% of Ugandans are under 35, many of whom feel politically alienated. A recent national survey revealed that 71% of citizens support reinstating term and age limits, suggesting widespread concern over prolonged incumbency and weakening democratic norms.
Opposition leader and former pop star Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has vowed to contest the election again despite escalating state repression.
“If I’m still alive and not in jail, I will run,” he told The Guardian in April 2025.
His 2021 campaign drew massive youth support but was marred by violence, arrests, and internet blackouts.
Complicating the political landscape is Museveni’s son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the current Chief of Defence Forces. He had previously hinted at running in 2026, only to later endorse his father. His rising influence has sparked speculation about a future dynastic transition. Muhoozi recently made headlines after allegedly ordering the abduction of Bobi Wine’s bodyguard a claim that further inflamed political tensions.
The government maintains tight control over electoral processes, media, and security institutions. Critics argue this severely undermines the possibility of a free and fair election. Meanwhile, Uganda’s relations with Western powers remain tense. The U.S. and EU have criticized Museveni’s human rights record, with Washington threatening to revoke Uganda’s trade privileges under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) due to political crackdowns and controversial anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
International observers warn that Uganda’s 2026 election will be a critical test not only for its political institutions but also for regional stability in East Africa. Museveni remains a key player in security operations across the region, including peacekeeping missions and counterterrorism.
Despite his advanced age, Museveni has dismissed questions about retirement.
“I am still strong,” he declared recently. “Leading a country is not about physical strength, it is about ideology and vision.”
As the campaign season nears, the stakes are high. Museveni’s seventh-term bid will either cement his legacy as a stabilizing force or provoke deeper calls for change from a generation eager for new leadership. For many Ugandans, the 2026 election will not just be about choosing a president it will be about defining the future of their democracy.