Retired Maj Gen Mugisha Muntu, the Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) presidential candidate, has officially joined the race for Uganda’s top seat, pledging to build a country where “peace is the presence of justice, not just the absence of war.”
Muntu, a former army commander and one of the leading opposition voices, was duly nominated by the Electoral Commission on Tuesday, becoming the fifth candidate cleared for the 2026 presidential race.
Speaking after his nomination, Muntu said the coming election offers Ugandans “an opportunity to retire Gen. Museveni” after nearly four decades in power.
“When I left the top ranks of Uganda’s military, it wasn’t for power but for principle,” Muntu said. “We must build sustainable peace in this country by focusing on justice as the foundation. Without justice, we are simply building on quicksand.”
“Peace Must Mean Justice”
Muntu told supporters that Uganda’s political instability has persisted because leaders focus on control rather than justice and fairness for all citizens.
“Peace is not the absence of war; peace is the presence of justice,” Muntu said. “We must build systems where even if you don’t have money, or you don’t have a cousin in power, you can still find justice in this country.”
He criticized the government for dragging its feet on political cases, citing long detentions of opposition leaders like Dr. Kizza Besigye, who has spent months in prison.
“If there are cases against political opponents, proceed with them in court,” Muntu said. “This business of keeping people in limbo undermines justice and breeds anger in society.”
Response to Critics
Muntu also responded to critics like author Kakwenza Rukirabashaija, who questioned why he was contesting in what they described as an “unreformed electoral system.”
Kakwenza had argued that without electoral reforms, elections were “useless” and risked being reduced to “populist exercises.”
In response, Muntu said his political actions follow a long-term plan. “There is purpose in all I ever do in life. It may not be immediately understood by all, but when the actions connect to fulfill their purpose, it becomes self-evident,” Muntu said. “At that time, you will appreciate it.”
Muntu joins a crowded field of eight presidential candidates, including incumbent Yoweri Museveni (NRM), Robert Kyagulanyi (NUP), Nandala Mafabi (FDC), and several others.
The ANT campaign team unveiled its official campaign poster this week, saying it “reflects our values, vision, and commitment to deliver the change Uganda can trust.”
“Even if I don’t become president,” Muntu said, “if I can help build a political vehicle that transforms this country, I will go to heaven as happy as if I had become president.”
As the campaigns kick off, Muntu urged Ugandans to remain peaceful but vigilant, insisting that “lasting peace can only come when justice becomes the rock on which Uganda’s future is built.”