President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has been officially nominated as a candidate in Uganda’s 2026 general elections. The nomination took place on Tuesday at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Lubowa, Wakiso District.
Justice Simon Byabakama, the Electoral Commission Chairperson, declared Museveni duly nominated after confirming that he had met all requirements under the Presidential Elections Act. Museveni will contest on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket under the campaign theme: “Protecting the Gains, Making a Qualitative Leap into High Middle-Income Status.”
The President was accompanied by First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, along with members of the NRM Central Executive Committee. After receiving his nomination, Museveni thanked his party for maintaining confidence in his leadership. “I want to thank the NRM members for entrusting me and electing me as the NRM flag bearer for the period of 2026/31,” he said.
Reflecting on Uganda’s progress since 1986, Museveni used Lubowa as a symbol of transformation. “I challenge the NRM media team to get a satellite picture of this area in 1986 and compare it to today. This was a coffee shamba. Now when you come here, it’s amazing,” he noted.
Outlining his campaign focus, the NRM flagbearer emphasized consolidating economic achievements and ensuring inclusive development. “In this economy, the GDP of Uganda has doubled from $34 billion to $66 billion. Investors are coming because they see peace and profitability,” Museveni explained.
He stressed the need for grassroots transformation, highlighting priorities such as free education, better roads, access to water, healthcare, and stronger action against crime and corruption. “Everyone must be involved in the money economy with ekibaaro,” he said, adding that education, infrastructure, health, and anti-corruption measures will remain central to his agenda.
Museveni also identified four sectors as the backbone of livelihoods and wealth creation: commercial agriculture, manufacturing and artisanship, services, and ICT. On land, he vowed to protect bibanja tenants from illegal evictions. “The Land Act is very clear, no one is allowed to evict a kibanja owner,” he emphasized.
On healthcare, he urged preventive approaches such as immunization and clean water to reduce costs and disease burden. “Curative health is expensive. If we focus on prevention, we can eliminate 80% of sicknesses,” he said.
The President concluded by stressing that his candidacy seeks to drive Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. “Our main work is not just work, work, but social economic transformation,” he declared.
Thousands of Ugandans flocked to Kololo Ceremonial Grounds shortly after the nomination, where President Museveni had scheduled his first campaign rally.