The Electoral Commission Chaired by Justice Simon Byabakama has nominated eight candidates to face off for 2026 presidential elections. On the first day, Yoweri Museveni, who has been in power since 1986 was the first to be nominated on the National Resistance Movement (NRM) ticket.
Museveni was followed by Robert Kasibante, who is running on the National Peasants Party (NPP) ticket and Elton Joseph Mabirizi, running on the Conservative Party (CP) card. On the second day, Nathan James Nandala Mafabi, running on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket was the first to be nominated, followed by former Chief of Defence Forces -CDF Maj Gen (rtd) Gregory Mugisha Muntu Oyera, running on the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) ticket.
Muntu was followed by Museveni’s 2021 presidential race biggest challenger Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine, who is again contesting on the National Unity Platform (NUP) ticket. Museveni won the 2021 polls with 58% while Bobi Wine came second with 35%.
Even in the 2026 race, Museveni and Bobi Wine are largely perceived to be the biggest contenders since other candidates are expected to struggle to make even 2% of the votes that will be cast. Other candidates nominated for the 2026 presidential polls include Mubarak Munyagwa Sserunga, running on Common Man’s Part (CMP) ticket.
Munyagwa was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kawempe South from 2016-2021 and was ousted during the NUP wave. Munyagwa formerly served as Kawempe Division mayor and on all those elective positions, he stood on FDC ticket. Since FDC split, Munyagwa clandestinely started a new political party.
The last person nominated for presidential race is Frank Bulira Kabinga contesting on the Revolutionary People’s Part (RPP). Day two was marred by heavy presence of military and police who clobbered several supporters of Bobi Wine starting from his home in Magere, NUP party headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, including those who escorted him during and after nominations.