Museveni sworn in for seventh term as Uganda president

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for a seventh consecutive term in office, extending his nearly 40-year rule after winning the country’s disputed January presidential election.

 

The 81-year-old leader took the oath of office on Tuesday at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala amid heavy security presence and widespread deployment of armoured vehicles across the capital, according to BBC reports.

 

Museveni, who first seized power as a rebel leader in 1986, was declared winner of the January election after securing more than 70 per cent of the votes cast.

 

His new term is expected to run until 2031.

 

However, the election outcome was strongly contested by his main challenger, opposition figure Bobi Wine, who alleged widespread electoral irregularities and ballot manipulation.

 

Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, described the election result as “fake” and accused the government of suppressing democratic processes.

 

The 44-year-old politician later fled Uganda, claiming he feared for his safety.

 

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

 

Ugandan election authorities dismissed the allegations and insisted that the polls were conducted freely and fairly.

 

With the latest inauguration, Museveni remains one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders alongside figures such as Cameroon’s Paul Biya, Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Congo Republic’s Denis Sassou Nguesso.

 

Several African leaders attended the ceremony, including Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi, South Sudan’s Salva Kiir and Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

 

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with many citizens having never known another president apart from Museveni.

 

Although the Ugandan leader has not publicly indicated plans to retire, political observers have increasingly speculated that his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, could emerge as his eventual successor.

 

Muhoozi, who currently serves as Uganda’s military chief, has attracted criticism in recent years over controversial social media comments directed at opposition politicians, including Bobi Wine.

 

Meanwhile, human rights organisations have continued to raise concerns over the treatment of opposition figures and the country’s human rights situation following the elections.

 

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

 

Opposition politician Kizza Besigye also remains in detention after his arrest in late 2024 over allegations relating to illegal weapons possession and attempts to procure arms abroad — charges he has denied.

 

The Ugandan government has additionally faced criticism over the passage of a controversial 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.”