The son of Uganda’s longest-serving leader, Yoweri Museveni had on Saturday, said that he had abandoned plans to run for presidency at the next election in 2026, encouraging his supporters to endorse his father instead.
President Museveni, who has presided over the country for 38 years, is generally expected to run for re-election even though he has not yet confirmed his candidacy.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba had in a post on social media platform X, said:
“I would like to announce that I will not be on the ballot paper in 2026. I fully endorse President Yoweri Museveni in the next elections,” he said, urging his supporters to support his father for a seventh term.
Kainerugaba, is the head of the country’s military, and he is expected to eventually become his father’s chosen successor, even as he is infamous for his controversial remarks.
Uganda’s opposition has long accused Museveni of trying to impose a monarchy government on Uganda — a claim the president has staunchly refuted.
Museveni, who is aged 80, has ruled Uganda since 1986 and has changed the constitution twice to prolong this rule.
Human rights activists and political opponents including pop star turned politician Bobi Wine have since accused Museveni of using the security forces at his disposal to imprison, intimidate and torture opposition supporters – an allegation Museveni has also denied.
Bobi Wine had come second at the last presidential election in 2021. But he had rejected the results, citing ballot stuffing, intimidation and abductions of his supporters. Museveni on the other hand, called it Uganda’s fairest ever vote.
