Yesterday, at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) headquarters in Kampala, the ruling party unveiled a new campaign poster for President Museveni. This poster is for the 2026 elections. It shows Museveni smiling, wearing his famous white hat and shirt, against a bright yellow background.
His campaign tagline for 2026-2031 is: “Protecting the Gains As We Make a Qualitative Leap into High Middle Income Status.”
But what stands out is how Museveni looks. President Museveni will make 81 years next month but from the poster, he appears much younger—like someone in his 60s. His skin is smooth, with no wrinkles and his face looks fresh and strong, without the black spots. This is not by accident. The image has been edited and airbrushed to make him seem youthful and handsome.
Why did the NRM do this?
Uganda is a young country. About 75% of the population is under 30 years old. Many registered voters are youth too—nearly 70%, as the party knows well. These young people want leaders who understand their needs, like jobs, education, and a better future.
In the 2021 elections, many youths turned away from Museveni and supported Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine, a popular singer and opposition leader. Kyagulanyi, was seen as a champion for youth issues. He promised change and spoke directly to the frustrations of young Ugandans, like unemployment and poverty. This worried the NRM and the party wants to win back those votes in 2026.
Some say by making Museveni look younger on the poster, the NRM is sending a message: He is still strong, energetic, and able to lead. They want to show that age is not a problem. Museveni has been president since 1986. That is almost 40 years.
But in a country full of young people, an old leader might seem out of touch. The poster helps change that image. It makes him look handsome and vital, like a father figure who is still fit to guide the nation.
Yet this is a common trick in politics and it is not limited to Uganda. Leaders around the world use edited photos to appear more appealing. In Uganda, past campaigns have also shown Museveni in strong poses, but this one takes it further with heavy editing.
The launch event was presided over by Moses Kigongo, NRM’s first national vice chairman, himself an octogenarian. . He talked about renewing the party’s mandate and protecting Uganda’s progress, like economic growth.
Party leaders say the new slogan, “Protecting the Gains,” focuses on keeping the good things Museveni has done, such as building roads and boosting the economy. But critics say this is just a way to hide problems like corruption and human rights issues.
The NRM knows youth are key to winning. In 2021, low youth turnout and support for Kyagulanyi hurt them in some areas especially the urban centres. With Kyagulanyi set to run again in 2026, the party is using every tool to reverse that trend.
Some Ugandans on social media plaftorms like X labelled the poster ‘fake’ because Museveni does not look like that in real life. But for the NRM, it is a smart strategy. They want young voters to see Museveni as timeless and capable, not old and tired. Will it work? Only the 2026 elections will tell.
