Uganda’s 81-year-old president sworn in for seventh term

Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for a seventh consecutive term as president of Uganda, extending his nearly four-decade rule after securing victory in the country’s disputed January elections.

The 81-year-old leader, who first took power as a rebel commander in 1986, was inaugurated at the Kololo Independence Grounds in the capital, Kampala, amid tight security and heavy deployment of armoured vehicles across the city on Tuesday, BBC reports.

According to election authorities, Museveni won more than 70 per cent of the votes cast, with his new tenure expected to run until 2031.

His main challenger, Bobi Wine, rejected the outcome, alleging widespread irregularities and ballot manipulation during the polls.

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, described the election results as “fake” and accused the government of undermining democracy.

The 44-year-old opposition figure later fled the country, claiming he feared for his life.

“The regime wanted to eliminate me,” he reportedly said after leaving Uganda.

Election officials, however, dismissed allegations of fraud and maintained that the polls were free and fair.

Museveni, now among Africa’s longest-serving leaders, joins figures such as Denis Sassou Nguesso, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, and Paul Biya in remaining in power for more than four decades.

Several African leaders attended the inauguration ceremony, including Samia Suluhu Hassan, Félix Tshisekedi, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

Uganda has one of the youngest populations globally, with many citizens having known no other president besides Museveni.

Although the Ugandan leader has not publicly indicated when he plans to retire, political analysts have speculated that the current tenure could be his final term in office.

Attention has increasingly shifted toward his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who has been widely viewed as a possible successor.

The military chief has, however, faced criticism over controversial social media posts targeting opposition figures, including Wine.

Meanwhile, rights groups have continued to raise concerns about Uganda’s human rights record and the treatment of opposition politicians following the elections.

Amnesty International recently alleged that at least 16 people were killed by security forces between January 15 and 18 during post-election unrest.

The organisation claimed the victims were unarmed and posed no immediate threat.

Another opposition politician, Kizza Besigye, remains in detention after being arrested in late 2024.

Besigye was charged in a military court over allegations relating to illegal weapons possession and attempts to procure arms abroad, accusations he has denied.

The Ugandan government has also faced criticism over a recently passed Sovereignty Bill, which criminalises activities considered to promote “the interests of a foreigner against those of Uganda” and labels recipients of foreign funding as “agents of foreigners.”

Meanwhile, rights groups have continued to raise concerns about Uganda’s human rights record and the treatment of opposition politicians following the elections.

Amnesty International recently alleged that at least 16 people were killed by security forces between January 15 and 18 during post-election unrest.

The organisation claimed the victims were unarmed and posed no immediate threat.

Another opposition politician, Kizza Besigye, remains in detention after being arrested in late 2024.

Besigye was charged in a military court over allegations relating to illegal weapons possession and attempts to procure arms abroad, accusations he has denied.

The Ugandan government has also faced criticism over a recently passed Sovereignty Bill, which criminalises activities considered to promote “the interests of a foreigner against those of Uganda” and labels recipients of foreign funding as “agents of foreigners.”