Museveni Tightens Grip on Power Ahead of 2026 Polls

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has officially confirmed his intention to contest the 2026 presidential election, potentially extending his rule well beyond four decades.

The 80-year-old made the announcement late Saturday, June 28, declaring his interest in standing again as the presidential flag bearer of the National Resistance Movement (NRM), the party he has led since seizing power in 1986 after a protracted five-year armed struggle.

Museveni’s enduring hold on power has been facilitated by key constitutional amendments engineered by the NRM-dominated parliament, first in 2005 to scrap presidential term limits, and again in 2017 to remove the 75-year age cap. Both moves cleared the path for his continued presidency despite growing domestic and international criticism.

Rights groups and opposition figures have accused Museveni of weaponising state institutions, particularly the military and police, to stifle dissent, intimidate political opponents, and maintain an authoritarian grip on power. The government, however, maintains it is safeguarding national security and stability.

As Museveni gears up for yet another election, the socio-economic landscape for many Ugandans remains challenging. Despite government claims of progress, indicators tell a more nuanced story. Uganda’s GDP currently stands at just under $66 billion, according to World Bank data, far from Museveni’s recently declared goal of transforming Uganda into a $500 billion economy within five years. Such a leap would require an almost eightfold increase, a projection widely viewed by analysts as unrealistic given the current pace of growth, which hovers around 5.3% annually.

Unemployment and underemployment remain high, particularly among the youth, who make up the majority of Uganda’s population. According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, youth unemployment is estimated at over 13%, with informal employment dominating the job market. Inflation has also hit household incomes hard, with rising food and fuel prices contributing to a cost-of-living crisis that has sparked periodic protests.

Meanwhile, the political environment continues to tighten. Parliament recently passed legislation allowing military courts to try civilians, defying a January ruling by Uganda’s Supreme Court, which deemed the practice unconstitutional. Human Rights Watch and other organisations have condemned the move, warning it will be used to persecute government critics under the guise of national security.

Uganda has a long history of using military courts against opposition leaders. In 2018, opposition figure Robert Kyagulanyi, better known as Bobi Wine, was charged in a military tribunal with illegal possession of firearms, a charge that was later dropped. Wine, a former pop musician turned politician, has already confirmed he will challenge Museveni once again in the 2026 election. He continues to reject the results of the 2021 polls, alleging widespread vote rigging, security force intimidation, and ballot tampering.

As the country approaches another high-stakes election, the mood on the ground is one of fatigue and tension. Many Ugandans face daily economic struggles while navigating a political system that increasingly punishes dissent. For critics, Museveni’s long reign is no longer just a question of longevity. It’s a test of how far state power can be stretched before the social contract begins to fray entirely.