Published on 06/08/2025
By Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye
The month of July ended with a lot of political posturing within opposition political parties such as National Unity Platform (NUP) headed by Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) of Maj. Gen. (rtd) Mugisha Muntu and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) headed by Patrick Amuriat Oboi.
At the NUP headquarters, Kyagulanyi released what he described as his official poster for the 2026 presidential race. Kyagulanyi, who was decisively defeated by the National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate, President Yoweri Museveni in the last elections, vowed to vie in the forthcoming presidential race. His vow is nothing, but a reminder of an English saying that some things are easier said than done.
Also at the end of last month, ANT, through what it described as the party’s expanded national conference in Kahunga in Kampala, declared Muntu as their presidential candidate for the 2026 polls.
Like Kyagulanyi, Muntu was among the defeated presidential candidates that were defeated by Gen. Museveni in the last election. His defeat was so humiliating, considering that his party once commanded more than 16 Members of Parliament and he was once the army commander. Alas, he ended up obtaining only 0.65% of the total votes.
The drama to pick at the end of last month was the decision by the party elders like Jack Sabiiti, consenting Amuriat to step down for Nathan Nandala Mafabi as the party’s presidential flag bearer in 2026. Amuriat was FDC’s presidential candidate in the last poll. He obtained only 337,589 votes, and instead of learning from such a dismal performance, he was insisting on standing again in 2026. But, the party elders did not want their party to suffer another humiliation in 2026, so they persuaded him to give way to Nandala.
At the time Kyagulanyi, Nandala and Muntu have been declared presidential flag bearers for their respective political parties, the mighty NRM has already endorsed Gen. Museveni as the presidential flag bearer in 2026. Formidably, Gen. Museveni accepted the endorsement and the task ahead of transforming Uganda’s economy to a middle level.
The endorsement is set in the background of the several achievements he has attained for his motherland, Uganda, in all sectors. As the historical leader of the NRM, Gen. Museveni has been truthful, candid and consistent for many years where the transformation of Uganda is concerned.
At the time Museveni’s contemporaries folded and took jobs in past dictatorial regimes, he decided to launch a liberation struggle against such oppressive regimes of Idi Amin, Milton Obote and Gen. Tito Okello Lutwa. After seizing power, he created the National Resistance Army (NRA)-seized state power, he concentrated on rebuilding the economy, enhancement of democracy and security.
The results of this mission are obvious. They include peace and security, a more disciplined armed forces, improved road network in the country, improved medical, urbanization, freedom of speech and others. With the peace we have had since 1996, Ugandans are appreciative of Gen. Museveni’s decades, achievements and the liberty he has brought to the nation.
In 1996, they saw him as a great leader who initiated a big march forward, and there has been no turning back since that time because Ugandans should approve him again beyond 2026 and continue his ideology and usher the nation into the middle-income bracket. Ugandans must look to the NRM to preserve and push our country forward under the able leadership of Gen. Museveni.
With Gen. Museveni’s popular support visible in all corners of the country, the likes of Kyagulanyi Nandala and Muntu will suffer a humiliating defeat in 2026.
The writer is a senior presidential adviser, political affairs, Office of the National Chairperson, National Resistance Movement.
