Munyagwa defies odds, joins elite eight 2026 presidential race
By Abdul-Wahid Kakande
Former Kawempe South MP, Mubarak Munyagwa has become the third Muslim to vie for presidency in the country.
Cleared at the last minute, Munyagwa is among the lucky eight candidates that have been duly nominated by the Electoral Commission (EC) for the forthcoming 2026 presidential race. Muhammad Nsereko and Kasim Male Buule failed to meet all specifications put up by the electoral body.
Over 220 had picked interest in running for presidency. However, only 35 returned the nomination forms.
After EC scrutinized their signatures, only eight candidates were found to have submitted the required 100 signatures from at least 98 districts as dictated under the law.
They include the incumbent President, Yoweri Museveni of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu of the National Unity Platform (NUP).
Others are Maj. Gen (rtd) Mugisha Muntu of the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT), Nathan Nandala Mafabi of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Frank Bulira of the Revolutionary People’s Party (RPP), Joseph Mabirizi of the Conservative Party (CP) and Robert Kasibante of the National Peasants Party (NPP).
No woman made it on the ballot despite a number of them to have expressed interest in the seat. For the first time, there are also no independent candidates in the presidential race.
The Common Man’s Party (CMP) president now joins Muhammad Kibirige Mayanja and Jaberi Bidandi Ssali to give the country a hope for a second Muslim president.
Since October 1962 when Uganda obtained independence, it has had nine presidents. However, Idi Amin remains the only Muslim president.
Amin became president after lodging a successful coup, overthrowing Milton Obote in early 1971. He ruled the country until 1979 when he was overthrown by a combined force of exiled rebels under the Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) and the Tanzanian Forces.
Speaking after his nomination, Munyagwa described his presidential bid as the start of a long journey to empower Uganda’s citizens.
“This campaign is about the ordinary Ugandan. After years under both ruling and opposition parties that promised change but delivered little, it is time for leadership that truly serves the common man,” he said.
“A long journey is commencing — the journey to liberate the common man. I am a veteran in this struggle.”
Munyagwa promised to roll out a federal system of governance in the country to improve resource distribution and service delivery.
Drawing from trade barriers in the region, Munyagwa promised to revisit the East African Community (EAC) protocols on trade.
EC chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi said each of the eight nominated presidential candidates is required to appoint an official agent that will coordinate their campaign meetings and media program and also attend meetings where necessary.
Byabakama said the candidates are also required to avail with the commission the schedule of their respective campaign meetings to facilitate harmonisation of campaigns that kick off on September 30.
Furthermore, Byabakama said each candidate will sign a memorandum of understanding with the commission on compliance with the campaign programs. He said the commission will also handover a soft copy of the national register to each candidate.
