President Yoweri Museveni to Contest for Seventh Term of Office

By Earnest Kivumbi

Updated at 14:16EAT on 10th Jan 2023

ENTEBBE

It is roughly 3 years to the next election in Uganda but the vice president Jesica Alupo has announced that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will run for president in 2026.

Alupo made the announcement “from your faces and body language I can see you are ready to give him more time in statehouse. He will be with you in 2026 and I ask that you support him, as you’ve vehemently supported always.” Said Jesica Alupo

Alupo made the announcement on Sunday while celebrating thirty-five years of Entebbe church of Uganda archdeaconry.

Yoweri Museveni has been president of Uganda since 1986 after the guerrilla war.

Since 2011, he has been accused by opponents of massive rigging, voter bribery and state brutality during elections.

The 2021 election which ushered in Museveni’s sixth term was condemned by observers and human rights defender due to irregularities. The European Union and the United States did not deploy any observers for this election claiming that the process had been fundamentally flawed.

Alupos announcement finds many Ugandans mourning and wailing due to massive kidnaps, torture and brutality. The victims are majorly members of the Uganda NationalPlatform, Museveni’s current biggest political rivalry.

More than 10 people are reported missing since November 2020. Others are held incommunicado for months.

Museveni is on record denying sanctioning such actions. He said Uganda is a country that respects human rights and rights of those opposed to his leadership.

Alupos announcement will only be confirmed 6 months to the general election in 2025 by the National Resistance Movement, Musevenis party.

However, Museveni’s son Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has already expressed interest in the presidency. This has caused factions within the party, receiving support from the young but resistance and condemnation from the old guards whose only trust lies in Museveni.