Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed his intention to seek re-election in next year’s presidential polls, signaling a potential continuation of his nearly four-decade rule.

In a statement released late Saturday, the 80-year-old leader announced his decision to contest as the presidential flag bearer for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) in the 2026 elections.

Museveni has been in power since 1986, following a protracted civil war, and has since overseen constitutional changes removing both term and age limits, enabling him to remain in office.

Museveni stated that his motivation for running again is to guide Uganda toward becoming a "$500 billion economy in the next five years," despite current government figures placing the nation’s GDP at just under $66 billion.

His extended rule, however, continues to draw criticism from rights groups and opposition leaders, who accuse his government of using state institutions, security forces, and patronage networks to stifle dissent — allegations Museveni has consistently denied.

The political atmosphere in Uganda remains tense ahead of the January 2026 elections, especially following recent legislation allowing military courts to try civilians.

Though the Supreme Court ruled such trials unconstitutional earlier this year, the government insists the law is necessary for national security. Human rights groups argue the move is designed to intimidate critics.

Opposition leader Bobi Wine, a former pop star whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has also confirmed his candidacy. Wine, who previously ran in 2021, rejected the outcome of that election, citing alleged ballot fraud and intimidation by security forces.

The use of military courts against civilians, including opposition politicians like Wine — who was charged in 2018 with illegal possession of firearms before charges were dropped — has drawn condemnation from global watchdogs.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has labelled Uganda’s military court system as lacking independence and fairness, with HRW’s senior Africa researcher Oryem Nyeko stating: “The Ugandan authorities have for years misused military courts to crack down on opponents and critics.”

As the country prepares for another election cycle, concerns over the fairness of the process and the state of civil liberties remain at the forefront of political discourse.