President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been officially nominated as a candidate in Uganda’s 2026 general elections, with the Electoral Commission confirming he met all requirements to contest.
Nomination Confirmed
The ceremony took place at the Electoral Commission offices in Lubowa, Wakiso District, where Justice Simon Byabakama, the commission chairperson, announced Museveni’s successful nomination. The President, accompanied by First Lady Janet Kataaha Museveni and senior members of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), will campaign under the theme “Protecting the Gains, Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status.”
Campaign Agenda
Addressing the media after his nomination, Museveni thanked the NRM for endorsing him as flagbearer for the 2026–2031 term. He outlined the priorities of his campaign, highlighting economic consolidation and grassroots development.
“In this economy, the GDP of Uganda has doubled from $34 billion to $66 billion. You have everything that you didn’t have in the past, electricity, the roads, telephones, manpower, the educated people, and peace,” he said, stressing that investors continue to be attracted to Uganda due to stability and profitability.
The President added that transformation must extend to ordinary citizens through increased participation in the money economy, free education for children from poor households, and improved road and health infrastructure.
Key Sectors and Policies
Museveni reiterated that Uganda’s growth rests on four sectors: commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services, and ICT. He pledged to protect bibanja tenants from illegal evictions, saying the law guarantees their rights.
On healthcare, he argued for preventive measures such as immunization and access to clean water, noting that “curative health is expensive” and most illnesses could be avoided. He also pointed to tackling crime and corruption as central to the NRM’s mission.
Political Significance
The nomination marks Museveni’s continuation of a political journey that began when he first took office in 1986. His campaign message, centered on socioeconomic transformation, underscores his bid to extend nearly four decades of leadership.
Mr. Edwin Karugire and Mr. Moses Byaruhanga have been appointed as his official agents for the 2026 elections.
