- Museveni once warned Africa about leaders who overstay
- Nearly 40 years later, he is seeking a seventh term
- Constitutional limits were removed during his rule
- Opposition disputes elections as 2026 vote nears
In 1986, when Yoweri Museveni marched into Kampala after a brutal five-year guerrilla war, his message to Africa was blunt and memorable.
The continent’s biggest problem, he said, was not its people, but leaders who refuse to leave power.
Nearly four decades later, that statement has returned to haunt him.
Now 81, Museveni is seeking a seventh presidential term, a move that would stretch his rule close to 40 years and make him the only president most Ugandans have ever known.
His long journey to power began as a rebel fighter who helped topple the regimes of Idi Amin and later Milton Obote.
When he took office, he was widely seen as a reformer determined to stabilise a country that had endured years of violence.
Over time, however, Museveni’s leadership has evolved. In 2005, his government scrapped presidential term limits. In 2017, the age limit was also removed, clearing the way for him to continue running indefinitely.
Supporters argue these changes were necessary for stability, while critics see them as deliberate steps to entrench power.
Uganda’s opposition has repeatedly challenged election outcomes, accusing the state of intimidation, vote irregularities, and suppressing dissent.
Authorities deny these claims, insisting elections are free and fair, even as security forces regularly break up protests and opposition gatherings.
Museveni’s main challenger in the current political landscape is Bobi Wine, a former pop star turned politician who has energized younger voters.
Still, analysts say Museveni remains the overwhelming favourite to win again, largely due to his grip on state institutions and security agencies.
The president insists his continued leadership is necessary to complete Uganda’s long-term economic transformation.
He has promised to grow the country’s economy tenfold to $500 billion by 2040, banking on agriculture, tourism, oil and gas, mineral processing, and technology.
Critics, however, warn that prolonged leadership, rising debt, and political tension could weigh heavily on Uganda’s future.
As the 2026 election approaches, Museveni’s renewed bid has reignited debate across Africa about leadership, legacy, and the irony of a man who once condemned overstaying in power now asking voters for yet another mandate.
