Uganda’s ruling party, National Resistance Movement (NRM), in the wee hours on Monday declared incumbent President Yoweri Museveni its flag bearer for the next year’s presidential race.

“His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni has come unopposed,” said Felicitus Magomu, chairperson of the NRM electoral commission.

Museveni thanked some 15,000 supporters gathered at Mandela National Stadium in the east of Kampala since midday on Sunday and promised more electricity, better roads, and more efforts in the information and communications technology sector,industrialization, education and health during the next term.

The incumbent, who was re-elected the NRM’s chairman, would run against his main contender Kizza Besigye, the flag bearer of the Inter Party Cooperation, a loose coalition of four opposition parties.

There are also other opposition leaders who are slated to compete for the presidency.

Museveni, one of Africa’s longest serving leaders, came into power in 1986 after seizing power from a short-lived military junta

After the country promulgated its constitution in 1995, Museveni run for presidency in 1996, 2001 and 2006, of which he all won.

The country’s Electoral Commission set Oct. 25 and 26 as the nomination dates for presidential and parliamentary candidates.