Ever heard a leader slam power-hungry dictators, then pull a 180 and rule for four decades? That’s Yoweri Museveni in a nutshell—back in 1986, he rode into Uganda’s presidency promising fresh change after toppling tyrants like Idi Amin and Obote. Fast-forward to today, and the 81-year-old is eyeing a seventh term in Thursday’s vote, with most Ugandans never knowing life without him.
Sure, Museveni scored wins: crushing the brutal Lord’s Resistance Army, tackling AIDS, and turning Uganda into a refugee haven while deploying peacekeepers to Somalia. He’s a foreign policy pro, cozying up to the West, China, Russia—even landing oil deals with TotalEnergies. But at home? Corruption’s the elephant in the room. Critics like University of Antwerp’s Kristof Titeca call it “central to his rule,” with state assets sold cheap to cronies and embezzlement scandals galore. Only one in four kids makes it from primary to secondary school (per UNICEF), and good jobs? Dream on for most.
Museveni shrugs off the graft claims—says culprits get prosecuted—and has crushed opposition like ex-ally Kizza Besigye, now facing treason charges. Term limits? Scrapped in 2005. Elections? He’s won all six, amid fraud cries and crackdowns. Now, pop star Bobi Wine (that’s 43-year-old Boni Wine) is his main challenger, but analysts bet on another Museveni romp.
The real tea? Succession whispers. Museveni’s frail but feisty, and eyes are on son Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the military chief dropping bombs on X (formerly Twitter). Opposition screams dynasty; insiders like ex-editor Charles Onyango-Obbo say it’s about the “mood on the ground”—a weak win might force Museveni to pivot. As Titeca puts it, “The big question is succession.” Will Big Man ever step aside?
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