By Our Reporter
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for a seventh consecutive term, following his victory in the country’s much contested January elections.
His new win now extends his nearly 40 years rule in the country.
The BBC reports that Museveni first took power as a rebel commander in 1986 and was inaugurated at the Kololo Independence Grounds in the capital, Kampala,under heavy security and heavy deployment of armoured vehicles across the city on Tuesday.
Ugandan election authorities declared Museveni won more than 70 per cent of the total vote cast. His new term of office is now expected to elapse in 2031.
Bobi Wine, ( real name-Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu) ,who happens to be his closest rival rejected the polls outcome, pointing to widespread irregularities and ballot manipulation during the exercise.
44-year-old Wine accused the government of undermining democracy, apart from describing the election outcome as “fake.” The opposition figure later fled the Uganda, claiming he feared for his life.
“The regime wanted to eliminate me,” he allegedly stated after leaving Uganda.
The country’s election officials, has dismissed allegations of fraud insisted that the polls were free and fair.
81-year-old Museveni, ranked among Africa’s longest-serving leaders,by his latest victory joins political figures such as Denis Sassou Nguesso, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, and Paul Biya in remaining in power for more than four decades.
African leaders who graced the inauguration included Samia Suluhu Hassan, Félix Tshisekedi, Salva Kiir Mayardit, and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
Uganda has one of the youngest populations globally, with many citizens having known no other president besides Museveni, the BBC reports.
While the Ugandan leader has not publicly indicated when he plans to retire from politics, political pundits have suggested that the current tenure could be his final term in office.
Museveni’sson, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has been widely viewed as a possible successor.
However, rights groups in the country have continued to raise concerns about Uganda’s human rights record and the treatment of opposition politicians after the elections.
For instance, Amnesty International recently alleged that at least 16 people were killed by security forces between January 15 and 18 during Ugandan post-election unrest. The rights body claimed the victims were unarmed and posed no immediate threat.
Another opposition politician, Kizza Besigye, remains in detention after being arrested in late 2024. Besigye was charged in a military court over allegations relating to illegal weapons possession and attempts to procure arms abroad, accusations he has denied.
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