A heated debate is brewing ahead of Uganda’s 2026 elections — and President Yoweri Museveni has fired the latest salvo. During a press conference in Ntungamo, the long-serving leader accused his rivals of entering the race without presenting any real development blueprints. In his view, many opposition candidates appear more concerned with demanding his departure from power than proposing practical, market-driven solutions to uplift citizens’ lives.
While addressing journalists at his Irenga home in Ntungamo District, where he concluded his campaign tour of the Kigezi sub-region, Museveni did not mince words. Surrounded by key figures including the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament as well as several cabinet ministers, he claimed that some of his challengers are failing to speak to the issues that matter most — economic growth, job creation, and market access. “I haven’t heard some of these presidential aspirants talk about markets,” he remarked, “they just say, ‘he should go.’”
Museveni emphasized that responsible leadership cannot be built on slogans or political resentment. Instead, he argued, it must rest on tangible action plans that improve livelihoods through long-term investment, infrastructure development, and structured economic programs. According to him, Uganda’s prosperity depends on leaders who can connect people to both domestic and international markets — not those who stick to populist rhetoric.
The President once again pledged his commitment to scaling up government programs designed to expand market accessibility and improve household incomes. He suggested that a sustainable economy requires more than changing faces at the top — it demands consistent policy implementation and visionary planning.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Museveni’s remarks have sparked mixed reactions among analysts and citizens alike. Some see them as a fair critique of weak policy competition, while others argue he is deflecting from calls for political transition. Should development discussions take precedence over debates about leadership change — or can the two coexist in a healthy democracy? What do you think — is Museveni right to fault his opponents for lacking a development agenda, or is this simply a political tactic to shift attention from voter fatigue after decades in power?
