Kampala, Uganda: Prominent media personality and political analyst Frank Gashumba has said there is no real competition President Yoweri Museveni is facing in the upcoming 2026 General Election, arguing that the current opposition figures are not strong enough to challenge the incumbent.
Speaking in a televised interview this week, Gashumba claimed that Uganda’s political contest lost its edge when former FDC strongman Dr. Kizza Besigye was effectively pushed out of the presidential race.
“The only person who ever truly competed with President Museveni is in Luzira. The rest are just looking for jobs,” Gashumba stated, referring to Besigye’s current incarceration and prolonged absence from the political frontlines.
He added that while National Unity Platform (NUP) President Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, generated significant public enthusiasm in the 2021 elections, he failed to secure even half of the votes polled by Museveni.
“There was some energy during Bobi Wine’s campaign, but the numbers don’t lie. You cannot claim to be a contender when you’re not within striking distance,” Gashumba said.
The outspoken political commentator further dismissed current opposition political parties as opportunistic. “Most of them are not in politics to lead the country. They are looking for jobs,” Gashumba asserted.
According to him, Bobi Wine’s real strategy is to secure more parliamentary seats to benefit from government financing tied to numerical strength in Parliament. “There’s no ideology or vision. It’s about increasing MPs to secure funding. That’s why there’s no serious challenge to the President,” he said.
Gashumba’s remarks come amid rising speculation about the readiness of Uganda’s opposition in the face of President Museveni’s re-election bid, following his official nomination as the NRM flagbearer in 2026.
Despite his criticisms, Bobi Wine and the NUP maintain that they are focused on regime change through democratic means. In multiple public statements, the NUP leader has said he is ready to lead Uganda and continues to build grassroots support.
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