Museveni’s son pulls out of the 2026 election bid, urges supporters to join NRM

Kampala, Sept 22–General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of Uganda’s longest serving President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, has said he has abandoned plans to run for presidency at the next 2026 election and urged his supporters to join his father’s ruling NRM party.

President Museveni, who has ruled the country for 38 years, is widely expected to run for re-election.

Kainerugaba, currently the head of the country’s army, is widely expected to eventually become his father’s chosen successor though the son-in-law Rwabogo is also eyeing the same position. Muhoozi is also known for making controversial comments as President Museveni was forced to apologize to Kenya in 2022 after his son threatened on Twitter to invade the neighbouring country.

In his post on X platform, formally Twitter Saturday September 21, Kainerugaba said, “I would like to announce that I will not be on the ballot paper in 2026.” He went on, “I fully endorse President Yoweri Museveni in the next elections.”

General Muhoozi said he wants to remain in the army and build it to international standards. There has been retirements in the army of several old officers who have served the army for a while which will give Muhoozi an easy hand of modeling the army the way he wants it to be for the safety of his father.

In the recent past Muhoozi Kainerugaba has traversed most parts of the country promoting his PLU sort of youth movement and declaring his intention to contest for presidency in the next elections. The PLU looked to be an intended challenge to the National Unity Platform NUP, party, of Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, alias Bobi Wine, which is predominantly a youthful party.

Muhoozi’s PLU, had attracted thousands of people mainly youths from various sectors with many admiring its military might that accompanied its leader on his tour. With the assurances of the pro-people Youth minister, Balaam Barugahare, anumber of youths had expected to gain from the PLU movement. He urged his supporters to back his farther Yoweri Museveni for his seventh term.

Muhoozi Kainerugaba who has had speedy military promotions further tweeted ‘ On PLU members who want to contest for Parliamentary, nothing is stopping you from doing that. PLU is a civic organisation not a political party. You are absolutely free to contest. For now I advise you to subscribe to NRM. That’s the political party that is most closely aligned to our values.’

Uganda’s opposition has long accused Museveni of seeking to impose a monarchy on Uganda — a claim the president denies.

Museveni, 80, has ruled Uganda since 1986 and has changed the constitution twice to extend his rule.

Human rights activists and his political opponents including pop star turned politician Bobi Wine have long accused Museveni of using security forces to jail, intimidate or torture opposition supporters. There tens of supporters of the opposition National Unity Platform NUP, who have been languishing in detention centres since the last 2021 elections.

NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi Sentam, Bobi Wine, came second at the last presidential election in 2021. He rejected the results saying that though there was ballot stuffing, intimidation and abductions of his supporters, he actually won the elections.

But of late President Museveni surprised the world when he publicly declared that Bobi Wines’s NUP party stole his votes amounting to one million. He publicly said he has the evidence and if NUP wants it can go to court.

But NUP has hit back and challenged him to dismiss the Electoral Commission since he has all the powers and also challenged him to accept an International audit of the 2021 elections.. The Electoral Commission says it has not received any complaint from the President over the last elections.