Veteran opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye has spoken out on whether he will run for President in the 2026 general elections, which would be his fifth presidential bid.
After running for president four times, Besigye opted out of the 2021 election, leaving FDC party president Patrick Oboi Amuriat (POA) to enter the race.
Amuriat came third after President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni of the NRM and Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine of NUP, according to official results from the Electoral Commission (EC).
Now, asked about if he is considering running for president in 2026, in a recent interview, Dr Besigye said he was convinced President Museveni will never accept election defeat and hand over power to his opponents.
“I have again been fairly clear on this. My mind is completely clear that elections under the NRM military junta, whose leader has no interest in a democratic process, will not remove Mr Museveni. His view is preserving personal power and rule,” Besigye told Daily Monitor sports journalist Andrew Mwanguhya.
BESIGYE: I Believe Bobi Wine Won 2021 Presidential Election
Besigye also reiterated his earlier stance that he is not interested in positions.
“I can say without the slightest fear of contradiction that I do not have ambitions of being a leader. I only undertake leadership simply to try and have a country where everyone and myself can enjoy our full rights. Once this is achieved, you will never see me in these headaches,” said Besigye.
READ: Besigye Says He’s not fighting to be president, responds to Ugandans tired of him
The political and human rights activist also also explained how Ugandans can end Museveni’s rule.
“First, it is the fight and struggle by the people of Uganda that will end it. We are all captives and can’t have power by simply lamenting. Secondly, to seek and reclaim our power, we need organization: organization that rallies all political entities for our liberation, and thirdly, we need to take active actions against the regime,” Besigye explained.
“These actions, we maintain, must be non-violent. But of course, we shall be met with the regime’s violence. This kind of liberation has been done elsewhere in the world time and again by now democratic societies and that is what we need to do.”
