By Benjamin Kalyesubula, a former member of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has announced his departure from the party and declared his intention to contest for the presidency as an independent candidate in the 2026 General Election.
In a press address, Kalyesubula expressed disillusionment with the internal processes of the NUP, accusing the party’s leadership of lacking transparency and democratic values—principles he says the party claims to stand for.
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“I have been a member of the National Unity Platform, and because there is no democracy within the party, I have decided to run as an independent candidate for president,” Kalyesubula stated.
He criticized the NUP for what he called dictatorial tendencies, likening the party’s internal leadership to the very system it seeks to challenge. “They are fighting a dictator, but they themselves are also dictators. That’s why I left NUP,” he said.
Kalyesubula now joins a growing list of aspirants looking to unseat President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who has ruled Uganda since 1986. He also intends to challenge opposition heavyweight Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, the NUP president, who is widely expected to carry the party’s flag again in 2026.
Promising to run on a platform of reform, Kalyesubula cited systemic corruption and the deteriorating state of the education sector as some of the urgent issues he would address if elected.
“Corruption is rampant among the powerful. Scandal after scandal, but those involved remain protected,” he said. “That is why I want to take over and bring real change to State House.”
He urged Ugandans to rally behind his campaign, positioning himself as a fresh alternative to the political establishment, both in government and opposition.
“Please come and support me so that together, we can fight the dictatorship of Mr. Museveni,” Kalyesubula appealed.
His announcement adds a new layer of complexity to the 2026 presidential race, which is expected to be one of the most competitive in recent memory.
