Why no opposition candidate can defeat President Museveni in 2026

__________________

OPINION

By Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye

Last Saturday, July 5, went down in the annals of revolutionary history, as the day President Yoweri Museveni yielded to the overwhelming nationwide appeals, and got nominated to contest for both the National Resistance Movement (NRM) chairmanship and as the NRM’s presidential flag bearer in the 2026 general elections.

The fact that he was nominated unopposed for both slots, especially as the NRM presidential flag bearer, is enough justification to prove that he was persuaded by millions of Ugandans.

He, indeed, confessed this in his acceptance speech following the nomination.

He said: “What, then, is next, and why am I coming forward to respond to the millions of Ugandans who have been ordering me with the slogan: “Tova ku main” — Do not leave the main electricity line.”

He further explained the two reasons why he is seeking another term as the President of Uganda. Reason one, he said: “Is to work with the NRM structures, to clarify the importance of the six aspects that are very crucial in ensuing that Uganda and, maybe by example other parts of Africa, do not, again, miss the bus of history as happened in the past when Europe transformed and Africa stagnated and was enslaved.”

The six aspects he highlighted are peace (no war and control crime), development, wealth, jobs, services and markets.

The second reason, he said: “Is to have leaders and a party that understands and is committed to the need for a qualitative leap from the status of the lower middle-income country of $66b by the end of June 2026 to a high middle-income country of $500b in the next few years.

At the time, President Museveni is highlighting such wonderful priorities which are good for humanity; the political opposition in Uganda has not expressed any convincing alternative programme.

They are only engaged in simplistic and dangerous talk about politics of identity.

The disorganisation in the political opposition is obvious at this time, they are also claiming to be organising party primaries.

The other day, a senior member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), Latif Sebaggala, went public, revealing how their primaries are marred by intrigue, corruption and malice.

He came out at a time when other members of the same party had complained of sexual abuse and harassment. A party marred by such evils cannot be trusted by Ugandans with votes.

Away from NUP, the other parties, People’s Front for Freedom (PFF) and Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), are by all indicators non-starters.

Recently, the two parties made fun of themselves by forming a political co-operation as a basis for their wishful thinking of defeating President Museveni.

Ugandans are alive to the fact that the ANT-PFF co-operation is nothing but a joke. The principal players in the co-operation were the same persons who fought each other during their days in the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).

The obvious principal of PFF, Dr Kizza Besigye, accused Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu of being an NRM mole. Such an accusation forced Muntu to abandon FDC, hence forming ANT.

Has Muntu ceased being an NRM mole? This and other questions require convincing answers from Besigye and his acquaintances in PFF.

With such a political opposition lacking credible policies for Uganda, President Museveni will win convincingly in 2026. His past achievements and his promises for a better future render him the best candidate.

The writer is a senior presidential adviser, political affairs, Office of the National Chairperson/national co-ordinator Bazzukulu