President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially been nominated as a presidential candidate for Uganda’s 2026 general elections, marking the beginning of his campaign for a sixth elective term.
If elected, he will extend his presidency to 45 years, making him the longest-serving president in Uganda’s history.
The nomination ceremony took place at the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters in Lubowa, Wakiso District.
Justice Simon Byabakama, the EC Chairperson, confirmed that President Museveni had fulfilled all constitutional and procedural requirements for presidential candidates.
Running under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, President Museveni’s 2026 campaign will be guided by the theme: “Protecting the Gains, Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status.”
He was accompanied by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, together with members of the NRM’s Central Executive Committee (CEC).
After his nomination, the President addressed the media and expressed his gratitude to the party for the trust and confidence it had continued to place in him to carry the NRM flag.
He pointed to Lubowa as a symbol of Uganda’s transformation, explaining that the area had evolved from a simple coffee plantation in 1986 into a modern satellite hub for managing the country’s elections.
He encouraged the younger generation—whom he referred to as Gen Z—to appreciate such achievements as part of the nation’s development journey.
On the state of the economy, President Museveni highlighted that Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product had nearly doubled, growing from $34 billion to $66 billion.
He said this economic growth had supported significant infrastructure development across the country.
He further stressed that national transformation must be felt at the grassroots level.
He noted the importance of tackling crime and eliminating corruption, which he said continues to cripple Uganda’s progress.
He urged greater support for commercial agriculture, manufacturing, artisanship, services, and the ICT sector as key drivers of economic change.
Addressing land issues, the President assured the public of his commitment to protect ‘bibanja’ tenants from illegal evictions. He emphasized that the law supports them and that his government would enforce it to ensure their rights are upheld.
By Olivia Nabaggala
23rd Sept 2025
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