Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, has declared his intention to contest in the country’s next presidential election, a move that will further extend his nearly four-decade rule.
Museveni, who has been in power since 1986 after leading a five-year guerrilla war, made the announcement in a post on the X platform late Saturday, where he revealed that he had “expressed my interest in running for… the position of presidential flag bearer,” for his ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party.
According to Reuters, Museveni’s long rule has been characterised by constitutional amendments, which scrapped term and age limits, allowing him to remain in office beyond the standard provisions. Rights groups have often accused the 80-year-old leader of using security forces and political patronage to consolidate his hold on power, allegations he continues to deny.
Explaining his decision to run again, Museveni said his target is to transform Uganda’s economy into a $500 billion economy within the next five years, a significant leap from the current GDP of approximately $66 billion, as estimated by the country’s finance ministry.
Uganda is expected to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in January next year. Museveni’s main challenger remains popular opposition figure and musician-turned-politician, Bobi Wine, who has also declared his intention to contest.
Bobi Wine, born Robert Kyagulanyi, came second in the 2021 elections but rejected the results, alleging widespread irregularities, ballot stuffing, and intimidation by security agencies.
