Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was sworn in Tuesday for a record seventh consecutive term as President of Uganda, extending his 40-year grip on power amid cheers from thousands of supporters at Kololo Independence Grounds.
The 81-year-old, who first took office in 1986 after leading a guerrilla war that toppled a brutal regime, won January’s presidential election with more than 70 percent of the vote. Opposition parties and independent observers cried foul, citing voter intimidation, abductions, and restrictions on campaigning – allegations the government has repeatedly denied.
In his inauguration speech, Museveni struck a familiar tone: continuity, stability, and the need to protect past achievements. He pledged to expand free education and healthcare, create jobs for the youth, and modernise agriculture and infrastructure. His son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the powerful army chief widely seen as the de facto heir apparent, oversaw the military parade that preceded the ceremony.
Uganda under Museveni has transformed from a war-ravaged failed state into one of East Africa’s more stable economies. Oil production is finally nearing reality, roads have been built, and the country has become a regional peace broker. Yet critics argue that democratic space has steadily shrunk, with term limits scrapped in 2005 and political opposition repeatedly harassed.
The inauguration came just days after the swearing-in of new Members of Parliament, many of them NRM loyalists. Opposition leader Bobi Wine, the pop star-turned-politician who challenged Museveni in 2021 and again this year, boycotted the event, calling the election a “sham”.
International reaction has been muted. Western governments, while privately concerned about democratic backsliding, continue to value Uganda’s role in regional security – from peacekeeping in Somalia to hosting over a million refugees.
For ordinary Ugandans, the mood is mixed. Many in rural areas credit Museveni with bringing peace and modest development. Urban youth, however, frustrated by high unemployment and limited political freedoms, see the seventh term as more of the same.
As Museveni took the oath once again – Bible in hand – the weight of history was palpable. He has outlasted countless African leaders and global statesmen. Yet questions about succession loom larger than ever. With Muhoozi increasingly visible and influential, many analysts believe the real power transition may already be underway, even if the formal baton has not yet been passed.
In his address, Museveni urged Ugandans to focus on “transformation” rather than personality politics. Whether the country can achieve genuine democratic renewal while maintaining the stability he prizes remains the central challenge of his extended rule.
For now, the red carpet has been rolled out, the military bands have played, and President Museveni begins another five years at the helm. Forty years in, the man who once promised to step aside when the job was done shows no sign of slowing down.
