Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was sworn in for a seventh term on Tuesday, extending his nearly 40-year rule after disputed elections that drew criticism from opposition groups and international rights organizations.
Museveni, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, took the oath of office at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala during a ceremony attended by thousands of supporters, government officials and regional leaders. The inauguration marked another milestone for the 81-year-old leader, who has governed Uganda since 1986 after taking power as a rebel commander following years of political instability.
The January election that secured Museveni another five-year term was overshadowed by allegations of voter intimidation, arrests of opposition supporters and a nationwide internet shutdown that disrupted communication during the voting period. Uganda’s Electoral Commission announced that Museveni won 71.65 percent of the vote, while opposition challenger Bobi Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, received 24.72 percent.
Wine rejected the results, accusing authorities of widespread electoral fraud and ballot stuffing. He claimed the election did not reflect the will of Ugandan voters and described the process as neither free nor fair.
Rights organizations and opposition leaders raised alarm over the treatment of political opponents before and after the election. Human Rights Watch accused Ugandan authorities of intensifying attacks on members of the National Unity Platform, the opposition party led by Wine.
The organization reported mass arrests, disappearances and intimidation targeting opposition supporters in the weeks surrounding the vote. Security forces repeatedly disrupted Wine’s campaign rallies, and several supporters were detained during demonstrations across the country.
Political tensions rise
At least one person was killed during clashes linked to opposition events, according to local reports. Following the election, Wine alleged that security forces surrounded his residence in Kampala, effectively placing him and members of his family under house arrest.
Tensions also escalated in the town of Butambala, where several people died during violence connected to an opposition lawmaker’s home. Opposition officials accused police of killing 10 people, while authorities said seven individuals died after armed attackers targeted a police station and a vote-counting center.
Museveni first came to power in 1986 after leading a guerrilla war that ended years of turmoil following the rule of Idi Amin and subsequent political unrest. Over the decades, he has positioned himself as a stabilizing figure in East Africa and has been credited with helping Uganda achieve economic growth and relative security.
His administration has also maintained close relations with Western governments, particularly in regional security operations and peacekeeping missions. Uganda remains a key military ally for several international partners operating in the Horn of Africa region.
Critics, however, argue that Museveni’s lengthy rule has weakened democratic institutions and reduced political freedoms. Constitutional amendments passed during his presidency removed presidential term limits in 2005 and later scrapped the upper age limit for presidential candidates in 2017. The changes allowed Museveni to remain eligible for office despite his advancing age.
Ironically, Museveni once criticized African leaders who stayed in power for too long, describing prolonged leadership as one of the continent’s major political problems.
Attention is increasingly shifting toward the question of succession in Uganda. Political analysts have pointed to Museveni’s son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, as a possible future leader. Muhoozi, who serves as Uganda’s Chief of Defence Forces, has gained growing political visibility in recent years through public appearances and controversial social media statements.
Although Museveni has not publicly identified a successor, speculation surrounding Muhoozi’s future role continues to grow within Uganda’s political landscape.
For many Ugandans, the latest inauguration highlights both continuity and uncertainty. Supporters see Museveni as a guarantor of stability and economic progress, while critics argue that Uganda faces increasing pressure to strengthen democratic institutions, protect civil liberties and allow greater political competition.
As Museveni begins another term, Uganda enters a period likely to remain shaped by debates over governance, human rights and the country’s political future.
