Yoweri Museveni: Uganda’s Longest-Serving Leader Shows No Signs of Letting Go
Yoweri Museveni has been at the helm of Uganda longer than many of its citizens have been alive, and he appears determined to extend his place among the world’s longest-serving leaders.
When Museveni assumed power in 1986, bringing an end to years of civil war and tyrannical rule, he once reflected on Africa’s struggles, attributing much of the continent’s turmoil to leaders who refused to step aside.
Almost 40 years later, that self-reflection seems to have faded. Museveni — once celebrated internationally as a model African statesman dedicated to good governance — has become the very type of leader he once criticised.
Beneath his affable demeanor and folksy storytelling lies a history of strategic cunning, guerrilla warfare, and political survival. Over four decades, Museveni has fused the state with his National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and systematically sidelined opposition, leaving little room for challenge.
At 81 years old — though opponents argue he may be older — Museveni insists he remains vigorous and is campaigning for a seventh term in Thursday’s elections.
The Campaign and Persona
Museveni’s speeches often meander through proverbs and agricultural metaphors. He compares his leadership to a farmer leaving a plantation just as it begins to bear fruit, emphasizing his 2026 campaign slogan: “Protecting the gains.”
He frequently recalls his bush war heroics, sometimes trading his signature safari hat for military camouflage. His storytelling and personal charm have long reinforced his image as both revolutionary and elder statesman.
In the 1960s, Museveni studied at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, a hub for anti-colonial activists. British journalist William Pike, who interviewed him in 1984, described Museveni as “a dreamer, a revolutionary” with a serious yet occasionally humorous presence that inspired those around him.
From Reformist Hope to Authoritarian Reality
Museveni’s early tenure drew international praise for progress on economic growth, poverty reduction, and HIV/AIDS management. He gained recognition as a regional peacemaker, deploying troops to Somalia against jihadists and welcoming refugees into Uganda.
Yet, his administration has also faced accusations of corruption, military overreach in eastern Congo, and violations of arms embargoes in South Sudan. His 2023 approval of one of the world’s harshest anti-gay laws drew global condemnation, but he remained steadfast.
Raised among cattle herders, Museveni once promised to retire and care for his beloved Ankole cows. Instead, he has surpassed almost every African leader in longevity, surpassed only by Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea and Paul Biya of Cameroon.
From revolutionary promise to entrenched power, Museveni’s rule has evolved into a complex blend of political skill, endurance, and controversy, leaving Uganda’s democratic trajectory in the hands of a leader few dare to challenge.
