By Aggrey Baba
On Friday, the NRM stormed the Electoral Commission (EC) with a staggering 2.2 million signatures endorsing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for the 2026 elections, where he will seek his seventh term in Office.
The law demands a presidential hopeful to collect just 100 signatures from 98 districts. But Museveni’s camp, led by party Secretary General Richard Todwong, delivered over 20 times the requirement, signalling the party’s grassroots muscle and early mobilisation.
Todwong told reporters at EC headquarters in Kampala, that the signatures were for confirmed voters with National IDs in the register, showing Ugandans want Museveni to stay and continue to rule Uganda.
The mega submission, made in the presence of top NRM officials Rose Namayanja and Rosemary Sseninde, was described by Treasurer Nekesa Oundo as proof that Museveni will walk into 2026 with at least 10 million votes in the bag. She said the signatures came from the smallest party units at village level, showing how deeply “Mzee Tova Ku Main” has penetrated the countryside.
But the move has sent shivers down the spines of the opposition. With only 13 aspirants so far submitting their endorsements, among them Robert Kyagulanyi (NUP), Maj. Gen. Mugisha Muntu (ANT) and Nandala Mafabi (FDC). Analysts say Museveni’s early show of force could leave rivals looking like David against Goliath.
While Kyagulanyi’s NUP remains Museveni’s main challenger, opposition forces are already divided, each rushing to EC with signatures instead of closing ranks, and this may once again hand Museveni an easy ride.
EC chairperson, Simon Byabakama confirmed that over 220 aspirants have picked nomination forms, the highest in Uganda’s history. But he reminded all hopefuls that only those who meet the district and voter endorsement threshold will make it to the nominations.
With the yellow camp already setting the pace, the ball is now in the opposition’s court. Can they mount a united front, or will Museveni’s early thunder drown them out long before the real campaign begins? Stay tuned for details as this unfolds. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
