Longtime Ugandan President Museveni will run for reelection, according to an official

President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is set to pursue reelection in the upcoming polls scheduled for early next year, aiming to prolong his nearly four-decade tenure, as stated by a senior official from the ruling party.

The confirmation from his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party marks the first official acknowledgment of his anticipated candidacy for office once more.

Uganda is scheduled to conduct its general election in January, during which voters will also select lawmakers.

Museveni, aged 80, has held power since 1986, making him the fourth longest-serving leader in Africa. The ruling party has amended the constitution on two occasions in the past to facilitate the extension of his rule.

A video released late on Monday by state broadcaster UBC on the social media platform X features Tanga Odoi, the chairperson of the ruling party’s electoral body, stating that Museveni will collect forms on June 28 to represent the party in the upcoming elections.

“The president will collect expression-of-interest forms for two positions: one for the chairperson of the party and the other to contest for the presidential flag bearer, should he be given the opportunity,” Odoi stated.

The NRM and other political parties are currently in the process of vetting and approving their candidates for the upcoming elections.

The primary challenger to Museveni is Bobi Wine, a pop star who transitioned into politics. He secured second place in the previous elections held in 2021 and has officially announced his candidacy for the 2026 elections.

Robert Kyagulanyi, known as Wine, contested the 2021 election results, asserting that his victory was compromised due to ballot stuffing, intimidation by security forces, and various irregularities.

Rights activists and critics have consistently alleged that Museveni employs patronage and security forces to sustain his hold on power. However, he has refuted these claims, asserting that his extended tenure is a result of popular support.