President Yoweri Museveni has officially declared his intention to run for a seventh elective term in the 2026 presidential elections, citing widespread support during his recent Parish Development Model (PDM) tours. Speaking at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) headquarters in Kampala on Saturday after picking nomination forms, Museveni said his candidacy responds to “the overwhelming call from citizens.”
“I have decided to come forward and see how to escort the Bazukulu [grandchildren] and their parents forward for another five years,” Museveni stated. “In this time, I want us to wipe out corruption because this corruption shouldn’t be there.”
If re-elected, Museveni would extend his rule to 45 years, placing him among Africa’s longest-serving leaders, alongside Cameroon’s Paul Biya and Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang. Despite past support for leadership limits, Museveni has benefitted from constitutional amendments that removed both presidential term and age limits—changes critics say were tailored for his personal benefit.
“The removal of the age limit was to benefit President Museveni. That’s a dangerous way of making law,” said constitutional lawyer Dan Wandera Ogalo. “It’s time he retires and lets others move the country forward.”
The succession debate reignited after the 2021 elections, when Museveni’s son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, signaled political intentions via his Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU). But Museveni quickly reabsorbed Gen Muhoozi into the military and strategically appointed prominent PLU figures—such as Balaam Barugahara, Lilian Aber, and Phiona Nyamutoro—into key Cabinet positions. The move, seen by analysts as a political containment strategy, has since cooled speculation about a Muhoozi 2026 bid.
Gen Muhoozi has since pledged full support for his father. On X (formerly Twitter), he warned: “Those people who do not support Mzee wholeheartedly better be very careful!”
Throughout his presidency, Museveni has made anti-corruption a core promise of nearly every campaign. In 2019, he led a high-profile anti-corruption march, calling corrupt officials “parasites.” He has repeatedly argued that economic transformation—through industrialisation, ICT, services, and commercial agriculture—is the best way to fight corruption.
Despite these pronouncements, scandals have persisted. In 2024, several ministers were implicated in the misappropriation of iron sheets meant for Karamoja. Only two ministers were removed from their positions following public outcry, leading critics to question Museveni’s sincerity.
“Mr Museveni always uses the anti-corruption pledge to justify his hold on power, but the situation keeps worsening,” said David Lewis Rubongoya, Secretary General of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP). “Corruption has become institutionalised under his watch. We urge Ugandans to stand against misrule and vote for change in 2026.”
Although Museveni insists his 2026 bid is to consolidate progress and eliminate corruption, his continued openness to future terms raises deeper concerns about succession planning, governance, and institutional health in Uganda.