Museveni declines to participate in NTV Presidential Debate, leaving stage to Opposition
President’s withdrawal from the NTV debate sparks sharp reactions as opposition candidates prepare to take the national stage alone
Kampala, Uganda – President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has officially declined to participate in the highly anticipated presidential debate organised by NTV Uganda, leaving opposition candidates to dominate the stage ahead of the 2026 general elections.
The debate, scheduled for November 30, 2025, is part of a series of national conversations aimed at giving Ugandans an opportunity to hear the policy positions of all presidential contenders. However, the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) affirmed that its candidate, President Museveni, will not appear, arguing that debates are “not an effective platform for serious national leadership engagement.”
NRM spokespersons said the President prefers “direct engagement with voters through structured campaign activities,” insisting that Museveni’s track record and ongoing nationwide tours offer sufficient clarity on his vision for the country.
The decision immediately sparked reactions from political observers and opposition camps.
National Unity Platform (NUP) candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, criticised the move, saying it undermines democratic transparency. “The Ugandan people deserve to hear all candidates defend their policies on the same platform,” he remarked during a campaign stop in Mukono. “Avoiding debates shows fear of accountability.”
Other candidates, including Alliance for National Transformation (ANT)’s Gen. Mugisha Muntu and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) flag-bearer Patrick Oboi Amuriat, expressed disappointment but confirmed their full participation.
Political analysts say Museveni’s absence could significantly shape the tone of the 2026 presidential race.
“Debates offer a level playing field, and avoiding them removes a major opportunity for comparing candidates,” said Dr. Sarah Biryomumaisho, a political analyst at Makerere University. “It also hands the opposition a rare moment of uninterrupted national exposure.”
Despite the criticism, NRM maintains that debates are “optional,” citing the President’s long tenure and country-wide mobilisation efforts as sufficient engagement with the electorate.
This is not the first time Museveni has skipped a national debate; he previously declined invitations in both 2016 and 2021.
With the election just months away, the upcoming debate is expected to attract massive national viewership, and President Museveni’s absence is likely to be one of the night’s defining narratives.
