Candidate Yoweri Museveni has officially picked his nomination papers from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Electoral Commission offices at Kyadondo Road in order to contest the 2026 general elections which if elected will make him president of Uganda for over 40 years .
The 81-year-old leader is seeking to retain his position as NRM chairman and, once again, become the party’s presidential flag-bearer in the 2026 elections, according to NRM Electoral Commission chairperson, Tanga Odoi.
Museveni now joins National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, aka ‘Bobi Wine’ who was also nominated to challenge for Uganda’s top political office.
Museveni said his decision to run again followed overwhelming calls from party members across the country during his recent Parish Development Model (PDM) assessment tours.
He said many NRM supporters had urged him to continue steering the country’s transformation agenda and not to abandon the wealth creation struggle. He also appealed to Ugandans to support his continued leadership, saying he remains committed to delivering development and economic transformation across the country , and fight corruption.
Museveni arrived at the NRM headquarters in Kyadondo, accompanied by the First Lady Janet Museveni. He was received by top government and party officials, including vice president Jessica Alupo, speaker of parliament Anita Among, and NRM secretary general Richard Todwong, alongside hundreds of jubilant supporters who had gathered at the secretariat.
Jubilant boda boda riders clad in yellow T-shirts escorted Museveni who was received at the party secretariat by the NRM Electoral Commission chairperson Dr Tanga Odoi .
Dr. Odoi officially presented the forms to Museveni, confirming that the President had paid the required Shs 40 million Shs 20 million for each of the two positions and that his name appears in the party’s register.
Odoi gave Museveni until July 5 to return the completed nomination forms. As of now, Museveni remains the sole contender for both positions.
Museveni urged the newly elected NRM district chairpersons to execute their duties with impartiality and integrity, warning them against engaging in corruption.
The 2026 elections promise a renewed battle between experience and change, legacy and reform, bringing Uganda’s political spotlight back to the familiar, yet evolving rivalry between Museveni and Kyagulanyi, who garnered 35 percent of the vote in 2021, compared to Museveni’s 58 percent.
