UgandaToday: 40 Years and Still Counting: Museveni Cleared for Seventh Term in 2026 Race
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of Uganda today, October 23, 2025, officially concluded the nomination of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, giving the long-serving leader the green light to contest in the 2026 general elections. This marks his seventh consecutive elective attempt at the presidency since he first took office in 1986 and served for 10 years before organising an election in 1996.
Nomination Day Spectacle
The nomination event, held under tight security and heavy public attention, saw IEC officials declare Museveni’s papers duly filed and compliant with the law. At 81 years old by the time of the elections, Museveni’s bid cements his position as one of the world’s longest-serving leaders still in active politics.
Supporters, clad in yellow regalia, thronged the nomination venue, waving placards that praised the president as the “Father of the Nation” and “Visionary Leader.” His ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) described the nomination as a moment of renewal, insisting that Museveni still has the energy and vision to steer Uganda forward. The Occasion that was duly witnessed by all the seven IEC commissioners was also attended by: The Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among, the Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, the Third Deputy Prime Minister and minister of East African Affairs Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga and the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Norbert Mao among other dignitaries.
History Repeats Itself
For many Ugandans, the day carried a sense of déjà vu. Having ruled uninterrupted for four decades, Museveni’s repeated returns to the ballot have become a fixture of Uganda’s political calendar. Critics, however, argue that this seventh run underscores the weakening of democratic institutions and the diminishing possibility of peaceful transfer of power which Uganda has never exhibited since 1962 when the country got its independence.
International observers are also expected to keep a close eye on the elections, with Museveni’s longevity often cited in debates about governance and democracy in Africa.
The Road to 2026
With his nomination confirmed, the president now faces a competitive race against opposition figures, Notably Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of National Unity Platform (NUP), Nandala Mafabi of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Elton Male Mabirizi of conservative party (CP) and one Joseph Kasibante independent. Others who may join the race which is expected to be closed tomorrow October 24, 2025 are yet to be officially cleared by the IEC. The 2026 election season is shaping up to be another high-stakes contest, where the battle lines between continuity and change will be tested once again.
For Museveni, the journey from the bush war of the 1980s to the ballot box of 2026 represents not just political resilience but also an unparalleled chapter in Uganda’s post-independence history—one that is far from over.
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