Museveni seeks seventh term amid opposition crackdown

Uganda’s general elections are scheduled for January 15, 2026, with President Yoweri Museveni seeking a seventh term in office against opposition leader Bobi Wine and several other candidates.

On election day, Ugandans will vote for both the presidency and parliament. The Electoral Commission has cleared 27 political parties to participate, with eight presidential candidates approved to run. These include Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986, and Bobi Wine, the pop-star-turned-politician who has emerged as a leading voice of the country’s youthful opposition. The vote will determine control of all 529 parliamentary seats, making it one of the most consequential elections in Uganda’s recent history.

However, Uganda’s political environment remains highly restricted. Reports indicate that the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has repeatedly used state institutions to limit opposition mobilization. Previous election periods have been marked by violence, intimidation of journalists, arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on civic freedoms. The United Nations and local civil society organizations have raised concerns over digital repression, including surveillance and potential internet shutdowns, which undermine transparency and limit freedom of expression during election campaigns.

Opposition figures, particularly Bobi Wine and his National Unity Platform (NUP), have faced sustained harassment and attacks. Security forces have been accused of disrupting opposition rallies, arresting activists, and using excessive force to disperse gatherings. These tactics echo earlier election cycles, during which opposition parties struggled to campaign freely under the weight of state power. Such conditions have fueled widespread skepticism over whether the 2026 elections will be genuinely free and fair.

Museveni’s four-decade rule has shaped Uganda’s political landscape. Since taking power in 1986, he has consolidated authority through constitutional amendments that removed presidential term and age limits. Previous elections, most notably in 2021, were marred by allegations of fraud, intimidation, and violence. International observers criticized the process, while opposition parties rejected the results as illegitimate. Despite these controversies, Museveni retained power, reinforcing perceptions that elections in Uganda often serve to legitimize incumbency rather than provide genuine political competition.

While a victory for the ruling party is widely anticipated, opposition groups continue to maintain a visible presence. Despite widespread arrests and a tightly controlled political environment, opposition movements have remained active, signaling persistent resistance and public dissatisfaction