President Yoweri Tibuhabura Kaguta Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, became the first candidate to be nominated for the presidential race in the upcoming 2026 general elections on Tuesday.
Museveni, aged 81, is contesting for the country’s highest office for the 7th term, which, if he wins, will extend his stay in power to 45 years, making him one of the longest-serving presidents in Africa.
Accompanied by his wife, Janet Museveni, he arrived at the Lubowa Electoral Commission Grounds shortly before his nomination time at 10:00 am and was welcomed by several NRM dignitaries, mainly from the Central Executive Committee (CEC).
He was immediately ushered into the nomination tent, where the Electoral Commission Chairperson, Justice Simon Byabakama, and other commissioners checked and verified his academic papers and other voter credentials.
“We find the aspirant’s papers as presented in order. He has fulfilled all the requirements as stipulated in the Presidential Elections Act. Therefore, I, Justice Byabakama Mugenyi Simon, being the returning officer for the nomination of presidential candidates, declare Museveni Yoweri Tibuhabura Kaguta, a duly nominated candidate in respect of the presidential election 2026,” said Byabakama.
On Museveni’s behalf, Edwin Karugire, the founding partner of K&K Advocates, signed and picked the nomination papers from the Electoral Commission.
Byabakama tasked Museveni to appoint an official agent who will coordinate his campaign meetings and media program and also attend meetings on his behalf, where necessary.
Secondly, the EC Chairperson tasked Museveni to provide the Commission with a schedule of his campaign meetings and media program as soon as practicable to facilitate the smooth harmonization of all the candidates’ campaign programs countrywide.
The Commission also notified Museveni that he would be required to sign a memorandum of understanding with EC on compliance with the harmonized campaign programs and timelines.
Addressing the media after his nomination, Museveni appreciated the Commission for the nomination process, saying that it was a lot of work studying documents and approving his candidature.
He tasked the NRM structures to come out and help expose crime and hold all criminals accountable. Museveni also noted that it is important to convince Ugandans about what the ruling party has achieved in the past years and share plans for the future.
Museveni also highlighted that it is important to focus more on the young people, whom he described as Gen Z, as staunch supporters.
Museveni is the first candidate to be duly nominated as a presidential candidate. He was presented with a security vehicle by the Electoral Commission (EC) to facilitate his campaigns and was cautioned to follow the guidelines.
Museveni also expressed gratitude to both the electoral body and the NRM membership for once again placing their trust in his leadership.
“I thank the Electoral Commission for doing the hard work of studying the documents and approving our candidature,” Museveni said, acknowledging what he called “a lot of paperwork” involved in the nomination process,” Museveni remarked.
He also thanked the NRM for re-electing him as party chairperson for the 2025–2031 term and endorsing him as the party’s presidential flag bearer for the 2026 general elections.
Museveni took a reflective tone, recalling the country’s humble beginnings and challenging his party’s media team to present Uganda’s transformation visually by comparing satellite images of Kampala from 1986 to the present day.
Focusing on the area of Lubowa, Lweza, where the nomination ceremony took place, Museveni noted that the land was once a coffee estate owned by a British company. “This was a coffee shamba called Ruboa Estate,” he said. “If you show satellite images of this area from 1986 and now, you don’t need to say much. The pictures will speak for themselves.”
Museveni argued that showcasing the country’s transformation through visual evidence would resonate more powerfully with voters than lengthy speeches.
“Show the picture of Kampala in 1986 from space, and show it now. That picture will say more than talking, talking, talking,” he said, adding that the visual contrast alone would be a compelling campaign message.
Turning to Uganda’s economic progress, Museveni revealed that the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) had more than doubled in the past term, growing from approximately $34 billion to $68 billion.
He described this achievement as remarkable and underappreciated, saying, “To double the GDP in one term is not a mean achievement. I don’t know why the NRM doesn’t talk more about some of these things.”
Museveni explained that Uganda had successfully transitioned from a Least Developed Country to a Lower Middle-Income economy, and the government’s next target was to push the country into the High Middle-Income bracket, with long-term ambitions of attaining First World status.
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