Pastors back Jessica Alupo for President

Drawing inspiration from the United States, some pastors are encouraging President Museveni to endorse a woman to take over from him, when his time comes to retire.

“You look at Jessica and think she is a joke, but I think she is the next president of Uganda,” declared Pastor Joseph Sserwadda, the head of the Born-Again Pentecostal Faith in Uganda.

“We, the people who are outside don't know everything, but if the president made the decision to pick this woman as his Vice President, that means he saw something in her.”

During a Sunday morning talk show, Sserwadda cited the example of the ongoing election campaign in the United States where Vice President Harris has unexpectedly risen to become the Democratic Party's candidate for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

This shift came after President Joe Biden decided not to seek re-election, citing a need for new leadership. Harris quickly secured the necessary delegate support to clinch the nomination, positioning her as the front-runner against the likely Republican candidate, Donald Trump.

Harris's campaign has already gained momentum, with substantial financial support and endorsements from key Democratic figures.

According to Pastor Sserwadda, the Harris scenario is not impossible in Uganda.

“Nobody knew who Kamala Harris was; even her sir name is unknown but she has served four years with Biden and she is now the Democratic party presidential candidate,” he said.

“If therefore the president decided to play the (Joe) Biden game and said, ‘Look, I am tired, this is my replacement. She is strong, she knows what I want and she is a soldier…’ I think there is nothing she lacks.”

IRCU's Pastor Joseph Sserwadda pulse uganda

Tanzania's Samia Suluhu

Charles Tumwine of Entebbe Victory Church also expressed willingness to back Alupo if she got endorsed by President Museveni.

“We’d vote for her…Ugandans would vote for her, especially the women,” he said. ‘

Apostle Tumwiine gave the example of Tanzania where then Vice President Samia Suluhu emerged out of obscurity following the demise of President John Pombe Magufuli, to take over leadership and perform over and above expectations.

Ahead of the 2026 elections, discussions about 79-year-old President Museveni, deciding to retire is taking centre stage.

In 2020 Pastor Sserwadda urged President Museveni to make the current term his last.

“There should be a small team of people that brings this up to him and says, ‘Mr President, there will be a Uganda where you will not be, whether you like it or not; You are the one that keeps talking about grandchildren. Well, your grandchildren have now grown. They are very old, they have even grown beards,” he said.