
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will seek reelection in the country’s upcoming general election, a senior official from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has confirmed. Though many expected him to run again, this is the first formal confirmation from within the party.
Museveni, 80, has led Uganda since 1986, making him one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders. The country’s constitution has been amended twice to allow him to stay in power once to remove term limits in 2005, and again in 2017 to scrap the age cap.
Tanga Odoi, chair of the NRM’s electoral commission, said in a video posted by state broadcaster UBC that Museveni would collect nomination forms on June 28.
“The president will pick up expression-of-interest forms for two positions, one for chairperson of the party and the other to contest if he is given the chance for presidential flag bearer,” Odoi said.
Uganda’s general election is scheduled for January. Voters will also choose members of parliament, and political parties are currently in the process of screening and approving their candidates.
Museveni’s top challenger is expected to be pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, who placed second in the 2021 election and has already declared his intention to run again. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, rejected the 2021 results, alleging widespread rigging, ballot stuffing, and intimidation by security forces.
Museveni has long faced criticism from human rights groups and political opponents who accuse him of using state resources and security forces to stay in power. He denies the allegations, saying his leadership has endured because of continued popular support.