Museveni Signals 7th Term Bid Amidst Opposition Turmoil

Summary:

• President Museveni, chairman of Uganda’s ruling NRM party, launches the update of the party’s voter register, signaling his intention to seek a seventh term in 2026. Opposition lacks a clear challenger. Internal strife within parties, notably NUP and FDC, adds to the political landscape’s complexity.

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President Museveni, also serving as the chairman of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), recently initiated the update of the party’s voter registry, a clear indication of his intention to pursue a seventh term in 2026.

During the launch, the president reaffirmed his party allegiance by signing the preliminary register, marking the commencement of the endeavor aimed at augmenting the existing 11 million party loyalists, commencing next week.

The significance accorded by the president to this event unmistakably signals his bid for a seventh term, following speculation on whether he would vie for reelection or endorse his son, Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for the presidency.

“NRM is founded on the principle of addressing people’s needs with viable solutions, which remain either unidentified or unimplemented,” remarked the president at the launch.

Hajat Hadijah Namyalo, senior presidential advisor on political affairs, rallied support for President Museveni’s reelection bid during a meeting with party leaders, district chairpersons, and registrars. Dr. Tanga Odoi, the party Electoral Commission chairman, unequivocally stated that President Museveni is the sole NRM flag-bearer for the 2026 election, dispelling any doubts amidst speculation regarding Gen Muhoozi’s candidacy.

NRM Secretary-General Richard Todwong pledged the party’s unwavering support for the president’s continued leadership and urged him to carry forth his legacy.

Conversely, the opposition landscape lacks a definitive challenger, with Dr. Kizza Besigye, former Forum for Democratic Change President and four-time presidential candidate, contemplating the formation of a new party. This decision is pending consultation following nationwide meetings initiated this week.

In the National Unity Platform, internal strife intensifies, notably between party leader Robert Kyagulanyi and Mathias Mpuuga, the former leader of opposition in Parliament. Kyagulanyi asserts that Mpuuga should resign from his parliamentary position due to alleged misappropriation of public funds, a claim vehemently refuted by Mpuuga.

President Museveni remains aloof from these conflicts, strategically awaiting the opportune moment to affirm his role as the harbinger of good governance, amidst the turbulence within and outside his party.

2026 presents a unique juncture for Museveni to secure a resounding victory, with political adversaries either subdued or embroiled in internal discord.