Uganda’s Electoral Commission has cleared President Yoweri Museveni to seek reelection in the country’s upcoming presidential election, potentially extending his nearly four-decade rule to half a century.
The 81-year-old president, who has been in power since 1986, is expected to face off against his chief rival, Bobi Wine, a 43-year-old singer and politician who garnered significant support among young voters in the 2021 election.
Museveni’s government has amended the constitution twice to remove age and term limits, allowing him to remain in office. Critics accuse him of suppressing political opponents, human rights abuses, and corruption scandals.
Despite these criticisms, Museveni has pledged to prioritize restoring public safety, fixing transportation infrastructure, and expanding healthcare and free education if re-elected.
The president’s opponents have long accused him of using state patronage and the military to maintain his grip on power, claims he denies.
Uganda’s military chief and Museveni’s son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, recently admitted to holding a missing opposition activist in his basement, further fueling concerns about human rights abuses.
With the country set to begin shipping crude oil next year, Museveni’s government is eyeing an economic boom, with growth projected to leap to double digits in the next financial year.
