MWE Correspondent
Uganda is bracing for a high-stakes presidential election scheduled for January 12, 2026, as the country’s Electoral Commission prepares to announce the official nominees on September 23, 2025.
The two frontrunners are expected to be incumbent President Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, representing the National Unity Platform (NUP).
This will mark the second consecutive presidential face-off between the two political heavyweights. In the 2021 election, Museveni was declared the winner with 58.4% of the vote, while Bobi Wine secured 35.1%, leaving a margin of 23.3% between them. Following that election, Bobi Wine alleged widespread electoral irregularities and has since been a vocal critic of Museveni’s extended rule.
At 81 years old, Museveni has led Uganda for nearly four decades. He has urged citizens to participate actively in the upcoming election, promising that this would be his final bid for the presidency.
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However, critics have expressed skepticism, viewing his statement as a possible tactic to maintain influence beyond his tenure.
For his part, Bobi Wine has rallied supporters to turn out in large numbers, framing the election as an opportunity to end what he describes as prolonged suppression of democracy in Uganda. He plans to address his supporters in the Katwe area near Kampala immediately after his nomination is confirmed. Museveni, meanwhile, is expected to speak at a major rally at Kololo Independence Grounds.
The political climate in Uganda is already charged, with tensions heightened by the uncertainty surrounding Museveni’s succession plans and the possibility of a continued grip on power through political allies. Observers note that the outcome of the Electoral Commission’s verification of Bobi Wine’s nomination papers will be crucial in determining whether he can participate fully in the race.
