As the calendar turns toward January 15, 2026, Uganda finds itself at a critical crossroads. The road to this year’s general election has been paved with intense political maneuvering, high-stakes nominations, and a climate of mounting tension that has captured the attention of the entire East African region. With over 18 million registered voters, the nation is preparing to decide whether to extend President Yoweri Museveni’s 40-year rule or embrace a new era of leadership.
The Race for the PresidencyThe formal journey began in earnest in mid-2025. In July, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) officially nominated the 81-year-old incumbent, President Museveni, as their sole candidate. Seeking a seventh consecutive term, Museveni has centered his campaign on the slogan “Protecting the Gains,” appealing to his traditional base in rural areas by emphasizing stability and historical legacy.
The Electoral Commission formally recognized his candidacy on September 23, 2025, setting the stage for a fierce battle. Wine, who finished second in the 2021 polls, remains the primary challenger, drawing massive support from the country’s discontented young urban population. Other notable candidates include veteran politician Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) and Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).
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Escalating Tensions and Rights ConcernsThe campaign period, which officially launched on September 29, 2025, has unfortunately been marred by reports of increased militarization and repression. While the initial weeks were relatively calm, November and December saw a steady increase in skirmishes. Opposition leaders have frequently reported incidents of arbitrary arrests and the dispersal of rallies with tear gas.
On December 6, 2025, reports surfaced of Bobi Wine and his staff being attacked by security forces during a campaign event in Gulu, an incident that Amnesty International described as part of a “brutal campaign of repression. “As polling day approaches, the atmosphere in Kampala and other major cities remains electric but cautious. While the government maintains that security measures are necessary to ensure peace and prevent “criminality,” the opposition continues to call for a “protest vote” against what they term an unfair playing field. The world now watches to see if the 2026 ballot will be a moment of genuine democratic choice or a continuation of the long-standing status quo under one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
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