The race for Uganda’s 2026 presidential elections is beginning to draw a diverse and increasingly youthful pool of aspirants, reflecting a push for generational change in the country’s leadership.
Voniter Nassanga, 20, a student at Kampala International University, has declared her interest in contesting for the top seat. Her campaign, she says, will champion the rights of single mothers who continue to suffer from economic hardship and neglect by irresponsible men. Nassanga believes that women, especially young mothers, have been left out of the national conversation.
“I want to speak for the single mothers who continue to suffer in silence,” she said. “The youth deserve a real chance to shape Uganda’s future, and President Museveni should allow young people to lead.”
Deogratius Akampurira, 24, a law student at Uganda Pentecostal University from Rukungiri District, has also joined the race. He has called for President Yoweri Museveni’s resignation, accusing him of failing to address corruption during his 39 years in power.
“For nearly four decades, President Museveni has lamented about corruption instead of fighting it,” Akampurira said. “Uganda needs a leader who acts decisively, not one who simply complains.”
Ayeza Abigail Victoria, a 22-year-old university student who picked up nomination forms to contest in the upcoming general election. She is now one of the youngest aspirants in the race.
Ayeza revealed that her parents are unhappy with her decision, citing the risks of political life, but she says she is motivated by a deep desire for meaningful change.
“What motivated me is that as we grow older, we wish the best for our society. If I want to see a difference in my country, I must be the difference,” she said. “I am not being funded by anyone. I am funding myself. I am going for signatures as I lay the foundation for my campaign.”
She will be joined on the ballot by Jorine Najjemba, a 20-year-old Senior Six vacist from Nkowe, whose campaign slogan is “An Open Door to a New Uganda for Everyone.”
They join an expanding list of young Ugandans eyeing the presidency, which includes other under-30 aspirants who have positioned themselves as voices for transparency, economic opportunity, and social justice.
Many of these candidates argue that the nation’s leadership has stagnated under the current political establishment, and that the future lies in the hands of a new generation.
