I was trying to run for the presidency in Uganda – yet men still found the audacity to call me ‘baby, sweetheart, darling’ -Yvonne Mpambara

Breaking Barriers: Yvonne Mpambara’s Bold Bid for Uganda’s Presidency

Yvonne Mpambara, a 33-year-old social justice lawyer and activist, made headlines with her courageous attempt to run for the presidency in Uganda’s 2026 elections. Her candidacy was not just a political move, it was a defiant challenge to the entrenched gender norms and patriarchal structures that have long dominated Ugandan politics.

Despite her qualifications and vision, Mpambara’s journey was marred by systemic exclusion and deeply rooted sexism.

Out of 221 individuals who expressed interest in the presidency, only 15 were women. Of those, just three, including Mpambara, garnered enough support to be considered for nomination. Ultimately, none were nominated.

The final list of eight candidates was entirely male, a result that Mpambara argues reflects not fairness but the persistent inequities embedded in Uganda’s political system. She criticized the notion of neutrality in the electoral process, pointing out that women lack access to the same resources and networks as men, making true competition impossible.

Mpambara’s decision to run was driven by a desire to dismantle the symbolic and structural barriers surrounding the presidency, which remains associated with traditional masculinity, military credentials, and strongman politics.

Since Uganda’s independence in 1962, only four women have ever contested for the presidency. Mpambara’s campaign aimed to redefine leadership by promoting inclusive governance, legal reform, and a foreign policy that amplifies Uganda’s regional role.

Her experience, however, exposed her to intense objectification and harassment. Despite vying for the highest office in the land, she was frequently addressed with demeaning terms like “baby,” “sweetheart,” and “darling” in professional settings.

A media personality commented on her lips, another man suggested she bear him a child after the campaign, and others invited her to late-night dinners under dubious pretenses. Online, she was mocked as the “makeup president,” accused of being Museveni’s granddaughter, and even labeled a Rwandan spy allegedly involved with President Paul Kagame.

This misogyny was not limited to fringe voices. Influential figures like Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the president’s son and chief of defense forces, contributed to the toxic environment. His now-deleted tweets threatened to arrest Ugandan women with “small behinds,” normalizing abuse based on physical appearance.

Women in Uganda also face state-sanctioned violence, including harassment during protests, unjust imprisonment, torture, and abduction. The rise of AI-generated images has further exacerbated technology-facilitated gender-based violence.

Despite these challenges, Mpambara remains undeterred. Her failed bid has only strengthened her resolve. She has launched the Foundation for Female Presidential Aspirants (FFPA) to train and empower women across Africa to pursue presidential leadership. She is also building an all-female political party, Women Freedom Fighters, which will exclusively endorse women candidates for Uganda’s presidency, a ground-breaking initiative in East Africa.

Mpambara’s story is not just about one woman’s political ambition. It is a rallying cry for systemic change, a demand for gender equity, and a vision for a Uganda where leadership is not confined by age, gender, or class. Her bruising experience has become the catalyst for a broader movement to ensure that women are not just participants in politics but leaders at the highest level.