Uganda’s President Museveni Plans Seventh Term Amid Electoral Controversy

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, has officially confirmed his intention to seek a seventh term in the January 2026 general elections. This will extend his nearly four-decade rule, made possible by two constitutional amendments that removed presidential term limits in 2005 and the age cap in 2017. Museveni will contest both for the chairmanship of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and for the presidential flagbearer position, with nomination forms to be collected in late June. His main challenger is Bobi Wine, a pop star-turned-politician who finished second in the 2021 elections and alleges the results were fraudulent, citing intimidation and repression of opposition figures. While Museveni's supporters highlight the relative stability and economic progress under his leadership, critics and human rights observers warn that his prolonged rule undermines democratic change in Uganda. The upcoming election is thus set against a backdrop of political tension and concerns over fairness and state repression.