Uganda's 80-year-old president in bid to extend 40-year rule

Uganda's long-serving president, Yoweri Museveni, 80, has been declared the governing party's candidate in next year's presidential election, opening the way for him to seek to extend his nearly 40 years in power.In his acceptance speech, Museveni stated that he had responded to the call and, if elected, would press ahead with his mission to transform Uganda into a "high middle-income country."Museveni's critics argue that he has ruled with an iron hand since seizing power as a rebel leader in 1986.He has won every election held since then, and the constitution has been amended twice to remove age and term limits, allowing him to remain in office.Pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine is expected to be Museveni's primary challenger in the election scheduled for next January.Crackdown on oppositionWine told the BBC in April that he would run against Museveni if his party, the National Unity Platform, nominated him. Still, it was becoming "tougher" to be in opposition due to growing state repression."Being in the opposition in Uganda means being labelled a terrorist," he said.Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, lost the 2021 election to Museveni by a margin of 35% to 59% in a poll marred by allegations of rigging and a crackdown on the opposition.Another prominent opposition politician, Kizza Besigye, has been in detention since November after being accused of treason. He denies the allegation, saying his arrest is a political move.In his acceptance speech at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) conference on Saturday, Museveni stated that he had brought stability and progress to Uganda.He said Uganda needed not to "miss the bus of history as happened in the past when Europe transformed and Africa stagnated and was enslaved".Museveni added that he wanted Uganda to take a "qualitative leap" and become a "high upper middle income country"."Other countries in Asia with less natural resources, did it. We can do it," he added. - BBC

Uganda's 80-year-old president in bid to extend 40-year rule

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-08

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Uganda's 80-year-old president in bid to extend 40-year rule

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-08

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