The 2026 presidential race in Uganda has officially kicked off, with both the ruling party and the opposition taking significant steps toward the polls.
On August 19, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) confirmed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni as its flagbearer for the January 2026 elections. His official campaign portrait was unveiled by senior party officials Al-Hajj Moses Kigongo and Richard Todwong, marking the start of the campaign season.
The opposition quickly responded. On August 18, the National Unity Platform (NUP) and the Democratic Party (DP) formally declared their participation in the race. Senior figures, including David Lewis Rubongoya and Joel Ssenyonyi of NUP, together with DP leaders, collected presidential nomination forms from the Electoral Commission.
Running under the slogan “New Uganda Now,” NUP promised democratic reforms and pledged vigilance against electoral malpractice, citing past irregularities such as raids and ballot theft.
According to Electoral Commission figures, the field is increasingly crowded, with at least 177 aspirants having picked up nomination forms by Monday evening.
As campaigns gather momentum, Museveni is appealing to voters with promises of continuity, stability, and development, while opposition forces are mobilizing for change and a fresh chapter in Uganda’s politics.
SOURCE: Africanews
