As Uganda heads toward its January 15, 2026, presidential election, President Yoweri Museveni is widely expected to secure another victory, just as he did in the contentious 2021 polls. Yet beneath the predictability of the outcome, Uganda’s political landscape has shifted in important ways. Bobi Wine remains the dominant opposition figure, continuing to energize younger voters despite sustained state repression and violence against his movement. At the same time, divisions within opposition parties and Museveni’s skillful cooptation of rivals have weakened any united challenge. Looming even larger is the question of succession, with growing signs that Museveni is positioning his son, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for future power. While the election result may be foregone, Uganda’s post-election politics are anything but settled.
The Conversation
