Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has confirmed that he will contest next year’s presidential election, setting the stage for a possible extension of his nearly 40-year rule.
The 80-year-old leader announced late on Saturday that he had expressed interest in becoming the presidential flag bearer for his National Resistance Movement, NRM, party.
Museveni came to power in 1986 following a five-year civil war and has ruled ever since. The NRM has amended the constitution twice removing both term and age limits to enable him to remain in office.
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Rights groups have long accused Museveni of using security forces and state resources to suppress dissent and maintain his grip on power, allegations he continues to deny.
Museveni claims his re-election bid is aimed at transforming Uganda into a “$500 billion economy within the next five years,” although current government data places the country’s GDP at just under $66 billion.
Ugandans are scheduled to vote in January to elect a president and members of parliament.
The Challenger
Opposition leader Bobi Wine, a musician-turned-politician whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, has also confirmed his intention to run. Wine previously rejected the 2021 election results, citing widespread fraud, ballot tampering, and intimidation by security forces.
Uganda has frequently prosecuted opposition figures and critics in military courts, a practice condemned by international watchdogs.
In 2018, Wine was charged in a military court with illegal possession of firearms charges that were eventually dropped.
Human Rights Watch, HRW, has criticized Uganda’s use of military courts, arguing they lack independence and fairness. “The Ugandan authorities have for years misused military courts to crack down on opponents and critics,” said Oryem Nyeko, senior Africa researcher at HRW.
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