Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who came to power in 1986 after a five-year guerrilla war, is seeking a seventh term in office, a move that would extend his rule to nearly four decades. When he marched into Kampala that year, Museveni declared that Africa’s biggest problem was leaders who cling to power, a statement now drawing renewed scrutiny as the 81-year-old veteran positions himself to remain in office longer than any other Ugandan leader.
Museveni, a former rebel who helped overthrow the regimes of Idi Amin and Milton Obote, has amended Uganda’s constitution to facilitate his extended stay in power, removing presidential term limits in 2005 and the age cap in 2017. His long tenure has been marked by allegations of corruption and authoritarianism, which his government denies, while opposition figures, including his main challenger Bobi Wine, have repeatedly rejected election outcomes citing irregularities. The president says a renewed mandate is necessary to deliver an ambitious economic transformation plan, though critics warn that prolonged rule and election-related tensions could further strain public finances and political stability.