The ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has confirmed that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will not take part in the highly anticipated NTV Uganda Presidential Debate set for Sunday, 30th November 2025 at 8PM.
In a firm statement released on Thursday, NRM dismissed social-media claims suggesting Museveni had already confirmed attendance.
“Our attention has been drawn to an advert… suggesting that the NRM Presidential Candidate will take part,” the party stated.
According to NRM, NTV’s invitation reached them on 21st November, long after the Electoral Commission had approved campaign schedules. The party says the debate was never included in the EC-approved program, meaning Museveni is “not preparing to participate in any such debate.
Meanwhile, excitement around the event surged earlier on Thursday after NUP’s Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) publicly confirmed he will attend.
Bobi Wine wrote:
“I will be there to share our vision for a New Uganda and challenge Dictator Museveni on whatever lies he wants to tell after 40 years of deception.”
The upcoming NTV debate will be Uganda’s second-ever televised presidential debate the first took place in 2016. Museveni skipped the first session that year but appeared for the second, famously complaining about limited speaking time.
With Museveni once again skipping the national stage, all eyes are now on the remaining candidates especially the two- time presidential Candidate , Bobi Wine as Ugandans prepare for a rare, high-stakes political confrontation ahead of the 2026 general election