Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has officially declared his intention to run for the presidency once again. On Friday, June 28, 2025, the long-serving leader revealed he had picked nomination forms to be the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party’s flag bearer in the upcoming elections.
“I expressed my interest in running for both the position of Presidential Flag Bearer and NRM Party National Chairman by picking up nomination forms at the NRM Headquarters in Kyadondo,” Museveni said, taking to his official X account on Saturday, June 28, 2025. “Since 1986, Uganda has progressed through five stages of development, and the NRM aims for the country to become a $500 billion economy in the next five years.”
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986, is set to extend his leadership in the country, despite growing concerns from opposition figures and civil society groups. If he wins, this would mark his seventh term in office.
Veteran leader faces praise and criticism
Having led Uganda for nearly four decades, Museveni’s tenure began after he spearheaded a guerrilla war that ousted President Milton Obote.
His early years focused on stabilising the war-torn nation, earning him widespread support. Over time, his administration has prioritised infrastructure development, economic growth, and regional influence, though critics argue his prolonged rule has stifled democratic progress.
The announcement comes ahead of the 2026 general elections. The NRM party had opened up nominations for those interested in leading both the party and the country.
Museveni, aged 80, remains the most dominant figure in Ugandan politics and enjoys strong backing from party structures. The NRM’s ambitious economic target of a Ksh64.6 trillion economy underscores Museveni’s focus on industrialisation, agricultural modernisation, and foreign investment. Party loyalists praise his vision, citing projects like the Entebbe-Kampala Expressway and oil exploration in the Albertine region as milestones.
However, opposition leaders, including Bobi Wine of the National Unity Platform, have criticised Museveni’s candidacy, accusing him of monopolising power and undermining electoral fairness. Civil society groups have raised concerns over shrinking civic spaces and alleged human rights abuses.
Kenneth Mwenda
Kenneth Mwenda is a digital writer with over five years of experience. He graduated in February 2022 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from The Co-operative University of Kenya. He has written news and feature stories for platforms such as Construction Review Online, Sports Brief, Briefly News, and Criptonizando. In 2023, he completed a course in Digital Investigation Techniques with AFP. He joined K24 Digital in May 2025. For inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected].
