NEWS & POLITICS
Uganda: Museveni seeks 5th decade in power
Yoweri Museveni, Uganda's President for the last 39 years, has confirmed his intention to run for a seventh term in the 2026 presidential election. This decision could extend his rule to nearly 50 years.
Noluthando Buthelezi
Museveni, 80, assumed office following a successful military coup in 1986. Since then, he has overseen constitutional amendments in 2005 and 2017 that removed term and age limits for the presidency.
Announcing on X, now Twitter, the 80-year-old leader defended his decision to remain in power, citing the need to continue Uganda's economic transformation agenda. In a speech to his supporters, he promises that if re-elected, one of his top priorities will be to combat official corruption. "In this time, I want us really to wipe out corruption," he said. Human rights groups and analysts have viewed his bid for re-election as having the potential to further narrow Uganda's democratic space, raising questions about whether the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) has a succession plan.
Museveni faces opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, who announced his candidacy this month. Kyagulanyi has criticized the NRM's regime for cracking down on opposition supporters, while Museveni has dismissed Wine as "an agent of foreign interests" who can't be trusted with power.
Museveni plans a five-phase national development strategy for Uganda, transitioning the country from post-conflict recovery to a science- and knowledge-based economy.
If re-elected, Museveni will continue as one of Africa's longest-serving leaders behind Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon's Paul Biya, and Denis Sassou-Nguesso of the Republic of Congo.
