Uganda’s president sworn in for record seventh term

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Uganda’s president sworn in for record seventh term

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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, 81, was sworn in for a record seventh consecutive term after his landslide victory in disputed January elections, extending his tenure as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.

Heightened security forces, including armored tanks, were deployed in the capital, Kampala, ahead of the inauguration, in what police said were measures to maintain law and order.

In his inaugural speech, Museveni said his new term should be seen as an opportunity to “take no more sleep for all Ugandans”.

People should focus on creating more wealth and jobs and build on the progress made over the past 40 years through peacebuilding and infrastructure development.

Museveni was declared the winner of the election with more than 70% of the vote, with his term set to end in 2031.

His main rival, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, rejected the result, saying the vote was tainted by “ballot stuffing.” Election officials have denied the allegation.

The 44-year-old opposition leader, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, fled the country after the elections, saying he feared that “the regime wants to eliminate me.”

Museveni came to power as a rebel leader in 1986, but has since won seven elections.

He is one of the rare African leaders in power for more than 40 years. Others include Denis Sassou Nguesso of Congo-Brazzaville, Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea and Paul Biya of Cameroon.

The inauguration ceremony took place at the Kololo Independence Ground in Kampala. The government has declared this holiday.

African leaders who attended the ceremony included Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Salva Kiir of South Sudan and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud of Somalia.

Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with the majority of the population having known no other president.

Museveni has not indicated when he plans to retire, but analysts say it will likely be his last term.

His 51-year-old son, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the military leader, has been widely tipped as a potential successor.

However, Kainerugaba has come under increasing criticism for the way he uses social media to threaten the opposition, including Wine.

On X earlier this year, he threatened to have Wine’s testicles removed in posts that have since been deleted.

Wine, who leads the National Unity Platform party, said the election results were “fake” and urged Ugandans to fight for their democracy.

The government insisted the elections were free and fair, and Museveni accused the opposition of seeking to overturn the results through violence, calling them “terrorist”.

Wine went into hiding after searches of his house and accused security forces of targeting him and his family.

Police denied the allegations, insisting they were only ensuring his security as a presidential candidate.

Museveni’s government continued to face criticism from human rights groups over a crackdown by security forces following the disputed vote.

Last month, Amnesty International said at least 16 people were likely killed between January 15 and 18 by the army and police. The victims were reportedly unarmed and posed no imminent threat.

The human rights group also criticized the treatment of another key opposition politician, Kizza Besigye, who remains in prison since late 2024 after being dramatically kidnapped while visiting Kenya and forcibly taken to Uganda.

He was later charged by a military court with possessing pistols and attempting to buy weapons abroad – charges he denies.

Last week, the government passed a sovereignty bill that criminalizes actions deemed to promote “the interests of a foreigner against those of Uganda” and labels recipients of foreign funding as “agents of foreigners.”